Hopes Aloft at Germany's Season Finale in Munich
Top horses and jockeys from across Europe gather in Munich for Germany's biggest race of the year.
On November 7, the Munich-Riem racecourse will host one of the most exciting days in German horse racing. The big event is called the Grosser Preis von Bayern, a Group 1 race run over 2,400 meters. It is the last of seven top-level Group 1 races held in Germany each year. Ten horses from Germany, England, and France are set to compete for a prize of €155,000, which is about S$222,000.
Two four-year-old mares are expected to be the top favorites in the race. Consent, trained by Sir Mark Prescott from England, recently won a Group 1 race in France called the Prix de Royalieu. She finished second in her last race at Saint-Cloud in France on October 25, so she is in great shape heading into Munich. Jockey Luke Morris will ride her, and he has won this same race before, back in 2021.
The other top fancy is Tajlina, trained by French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Tajlina ran fifth in a big race at Ascot in England last month, showing she can compete at the highest level. She will be ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, who has won the French jockeys' championship many times. Boudot had some legal troubles but made a strong comeback this year.
A French horse named Herbal is also making the trip to Munich, even though he is considered an outsider. His trainer, Philippe Decouz, is not very well known in big races, but he has trained horses for French soccer star Antoine Griezmann. Decouz believes Herbal has improved a lot this season and deserves to race against the best horses in Europe. "He's a very talented horse I really believe in," said Decouz.
Another visitor is Gethin, who will be ridden by James Doyle, a top jockey who rides for the powerful Wathnan Racing team. Gethin won a Listed race at Kempton, which showed he can handle tough competition. His arrival adds even more international star power to the already strong field. Fans will be watching to see how he measures up against the European favorites.
On the German side, trainer Michael Figge is excited about his horse Snow Player. The four-year-old won his last race at Hoppegarten on October 3 by four lengths, which is a big margin. "He's been improving every month and we don't know where his limit is," said Figge. Figge has chosen French jockey Antoine Hamelin to ride Snow Player on Saturday.
Figge also has his eyes on a bigger prize after Munich. He is hoping Snow Player might earn an invitation to the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase in December. Figge has raced in Hong Kong before, sending a horse called Feuerblitz to the Hong Kong Cup in 2012 and 2013. "Maybe he could get an invitation to the Hong Kong Vase," Figge said hopefully.
Other German horses to watch include Santagada, a six-time Group race winner trained by Peter Schiergen. Schiergen's team is also sending a horse called Daytona, though he is considered an outsider. Hank Grewe's Akido and the 2025 German Derby winner Hochkonig are also in the field. With so many strong runners, the season finale in Munich promises to be a thrilling day of racing.
"We're coming to Munich because I hope that his condition has grown. He definitely needs soft ground and I think the classic distance will be sweet for him."
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How much prize money is being offered in the Grosser Preis von Bayern?
2. Which jockey is riding Consent in the Munich race?
3. By how many lengths did Snow Player win his last race at Hoppegarten?