Henkel-Preis der Diana (Group 1)

THERE was no luck for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Garden Of Eden as both British and Irish contenders failed to make an impression in the German Oaks at Dusseldorf last Sunday with Charlie Appleby’s Spirited Style also well beaten as they finished ninth and 10th.

Ribblesdale winner Garden Of Eden and listed scorer Spirited Style were sent off favourite and second favourite for this year’s classic, but victory went to home-trained Nicoreni.

Neither of the two fillies looked happy during the race with Ryan Moore, who went here instead of the Group 1 at Deauville, on Garden Of Eden and William Buick on Spirited Style under a drive before the field entered the home straight.

The two market leaders were forced to swing widest on the turn to the home straight, but up front, the front-runner Innora was attempting to hold off the challenges.

It was only in the final 50 metres, that Nicoreni rushed past to take the prize for trainer Peter Schiergen, who was winning the race for a fifth time. The best fancied of the home team, Lady Charlotte, finished fifth.

The winner is a German-bred daughter of Brametot, winner of the 2017 Prix du Jockey Club.

The victory was a first at Group 1 level for her rider Leon Wolff, who was riding the filly for the first time. Nicoreni had been the mount of jockey Sibylle Vogt, who partnered her to Group 3 success last year but has not ridden since the end of May, having tested positive for metabolites of cocaine at Compiegne in France in March.