Germany: English shipper Alpinista vs. local hope Sisfahan in Group 1 Preis von Europa

The most important 1 1/2-mile race in Europe, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, comes next Sunday, Oct. 3, but this Sunday, Cologne Racecourse hosts one of the most important 1 1/2-mile races in Germany, the Group 1 Preis von Europa.

Germany’s leading 1 1/2-mile horse, Torquator Tasso, is headed for the Arc after a convincing Sept. 4 victory at Baden-Baden in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden, but Sisfahan, who was second in the Grosser Preis von Baden, meets English invader Alpinista in Sunday’s contest.

Alpinista, a 4-year-old filly trained by Mark Prescott, makes her second trip to Germany this year following a sharp 2 3/4-length score over Torquator Tasso on Aug. 8 in the Grosser Preis Von Berlin. A well-beaten third in that race was Walton Street, who dominated the Canadian International last weekend at Woobine.

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Group 1-placed during her 2020 campaign, Alpinista has won all three of her starts this season, capturing the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock Park before successfully shipping to Germany. She should take plenty of beating Sunday but does give three pounds to 3-year-old colt Sisfahan.

Lightly raced Sisfahan won the German Derby over 1 1/2 miles at Hamburg in July and didn’t race again until finishing second behind Torquator Tasso in the Grosser Preis von Baden, where he got seven pounds from the winner.

* Benbatl has come under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Mile after winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes on Friday at Newmarket. It was a second Joel win for 7-year-old Benbatl, who has won Group 1 races in Australia, Dubai, and Germany for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin.