Aussies in serious bid to win the Arc with German filly
Brad Waters
30/07/2012
An Australian bid to win the Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) will begin in next weekend’s Group I Preis De Diana (German Oaks – 2200m) at Dusseldorf.
Australian Bloodstock purchase Salomina is the pre-post favourite for the Preis De Diana. The daughter of Lomitas has won her three starts in emphatic fashion, including her-last start success in the Group III Grosser Preis von Lotto Hamburg (2200m) on July 5.
Danedream won last year’s Preis De Diana before beating the older horses in the Arc eight weeks later. Australian Bloodstock co-founder Luke Murrell said Salomina could follow the same path if successful in the 2012 renewal of the Preis De Diana.
“We were extremely lucky to get her,” Murrell said. “She has got a wonderful turn of foot and the German form is really starting to stand up all over the world, even in the best races like the Arc as we saw last year.
“She needs to win the German Oaks for us to consider running her in the Arc but she’s probably the best three-year-old filly in Germany this year so we are confident she can get the job done.”
Murrell said Australian rider Craig Williams is an outside chance to fly to Germany to partner Salomina in the €400,000 event but the decision rests with the filly’s trainer Peter Schiergen.
“We will know tonight (Monday) our time what we are going to do for a jockey,” Murrell said. “Andrasch Starke is her usual rider but we’ll make a decision on a rider soon.”
Australian Bloodstock imported classy gallopers Mawingo and Lucas Cranach from Germany to join the Anthony Freedman stable last year. Murrell said Freedman could travel to Europe to oversee Salomina’s Arc preparation if she wins the Preis De Diana.
“We won’t decide anything unless she wins the German race but the idea has been tossed around for Anthony to go over and train her for the Arc,” Murrell said.
