THE Markus Klug-trained Kaspar got revenge on a couple of his rivals last Sunday in the Group 2 Grosser Preis der RP Gruppe at Mülheim.

The race was formerly run at the Baden-Baden Spring Festival but was moved to Mülheim this year with the festival not talking place.

It attracted a high-class field of seven runners which included the second, third and fourth from last year’s German Derby (won by In Swoop) in Torquator Tasso, Grocer Jack (later disqualified for a banned substance in sample) and Kaspar.

Despite twice finishing behind Torquator Tasso last year, Kaspar, owned and bred by the Gestüt Röttgen, was sent off joint favourite along with Nerium, who had beaten Kaspar by two and a half lengths when winning the Group 2 Carl Jaspers Preis at Cologne last month.

Kaspar had also gone close last season when beaten only a neck by Donjah in the Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne in August

Jockey Adrie de Vries sent Kasper, a son of Pivotal, to the front and they never saw another rival in the 11-furlong contest, winning by a length and three quarters.

Disappointed

Torquator Tasso and Nerium disappointed to fill the last two places and it was left to recent Milan Group 3 winner Grocer Jack to chase Kaspar home, with outsider Only The Brave running a big race to finish third.

De Vries, who was replacing the injured Maxim Pecheur aboard Kaspar, was delighted with the win.

“The trainer told me to get Kaspar to the front and just let him gallop, which he did.

“The horse was pretty much 100% today, and he showed his true class.”

Arcano filly wins the Italian Oaks

LAST Sunday also saw the running of the Group 2 Premio Oaks d’Italia at San Siro in Milan and it was won by the Italian-bred Arcano filly Eulaila, ridden by Dario Vargiu.

The Marco Botti-trained English challenger Invite was sent off favourite under John Egan but she could only finish fifth of the 10 runners in the Team Valor colours.

Held up in midfield on the inner, she made an effort a furlong and a half out but could made no further impression in the final furlong.

Eulaila beat Cima Star and Anoush by a length and three quarters of a length. She was almost upsides the leader Zelandia from halfway and was shaken up to lead over two out and stayed on well to win the 11-furlong Group 2, worth £148,645 for trainer Alduino Botti.