THE three most important – and also most valuable – races of the German season all ended in a photo-finish.

First up was the Deutsches Derby in Hamburg in early July. There was a maximum field of 20 runners and most of them were still in with a chance two furlongs out. A trio drew clear in the final stages but it was difficult for the naked eye to split Sammarco, hard on the inside rail, Schwarzer Peter, charging up the wide outside, and So Moonstruck in the centre of the track.