GESTÜT Etzean’s homebred Palmas recorded an impressive victory in last Sunday’s Group 1 Henkel Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Düsseldorf, putting up what was arguably the best performance by a German three-year-old so far this year.

Sixteen fillies lined up and it was generally felt to be a much stronger field than the German Derby a month ago, where many of the expected favourites, including the winners of most of the top trials, missed the race for one reason or another.