Dubai: Fourteen years after he completed back-to-back victories in the Grosser Preis von Baden, one of seven Group 1 contests run in Germany each season, Godolphin’s Saeed Bin Surour returns for another shot at Baden Baden’s most famous 2,400 metre flat race.
The championship-winning Emirati handler saddled Marienbard and Mamool to claim the €250,000 prise in 2003-2004 and now aims Best Solution and Prize Money at a race whose winner earns an automatic invitation to compete in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf.
This will be the Godolphin pair’s second successive appearance in the race, with Best Solution having finish a 1 1/2 to the Hans-Juergen Groeschel-trained Iquitos 12 months ago and Prize Money sixth.
Three-year-old colt Best Solution landed the Listed Derby Trial over an extended 11 furlongs at Lingfield Park, UK, in May and finished eighth in the Group 1 Epsom Derby behind Irish 40/1 outsider Wings of Eagles
Four-year-old Prize Money delivered his best performance this year when winning the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold over 1 1/2 at Meydan, in March and also ran well when fourth behind Jack Hobbs in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic over the same course and distance later the same month.
William Carson, successful on Best Solution at Newmarket last year, takes the ride on the colt for the second time, with Martin Lane aboard Prize Money for the first time.
Bin Surour told the Godolphin website: “Best Solution ran well last time out in Germany and is in good form.
“Prize Money is also in good order. Both horses will be suited by the mile and a half and any rain will help their chances.
“It looks a good race, with Iquitos in there, but both horses are fit and well and I am looking for a good result.”
In addition to Iquitos, the field of seven for the Grosser Preis von Baden also includes Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern winner Guignol and Group 1 Deutsches Derby victor Windstoss.
