ONLY four were left in at Monday´s final forfeit stage for the Group 1 Preis von Europe at Cologne this Sunday, a bitter situation for the race club and a sad commentary on the way this race, once the richest in Germany, has fallen from grace in recent years.

However, the likely small field has provoked plenty of interest, and four supplementary entries on Wednesday (though one of the earlier entries is expected to be withdrawn) has brought some extra euros into the club´s coffers.