TEN years after he narrowly failed to win the Triple Crown, Camelot has sired his tenth Group 1 winner, thanks to Sammarco’s narrow victory in a blanket finish to the Deutsches (German) Derby.

The Gestut Park Wiedingen homebred was making only his fourth start and enjoyed his third win, adding to a sole juvenile victory and success in the Group 2 Union-Rennen earlier this year. He was runner-up on his only other outing.

He is the first foal out of his Soldier Hollow (In The Wings) dam Saloon Sold, and she was twice a winner and stakes-placed in Germany.

Sammarco was offered as a yearling and retained at the BBAG September Yearling Sale for €120,000. He was evidently held in high regard by his breeders, and so it was some surprise to see that they sold his now two-year-old half-sister by Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) last year for only €11,000. She is not named to date, is worth a good deal more, and is followed by a yearling colt by Areion (Big Shuffle).

This is a good German line going back generations, though Saloon Sold is the sole stakes performer out of Saloon Rum (Spectrum), responsible for three winners. Back in the third generation we find the next lot of blacktype winners.

Sammarco’s third dam Salonblue (Bluebird) won a couple of listed races in Germany at three and half of her six winners are stakes winners, none above listed status.

Monblue (Monsun) won her listed race in Italy, Salon Soldier (Soldier Hollow) gained his in Australia, while Salonlove (Lawman) was a juvenile listed winner in Germany two years ago.

This is still a relatively young female line, and the weekend’s classic winner is the first Group 1 winner in four generations of his family. His fourth dam, the classic-placed Salonrolle (Tirol), bred the Group 3 Curragh Cup winner Peppertree Lane (Peintre Celebre), and is grandam of the Group 1 German Oaks runner-up Sarandia (Dansili).