Germany: Novellist heads Grosser Preis Von Baden

Novellist, winner of consecutive Group 1 races in June and July, can solidify his claims as a leading contender for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France in October when he starts favored in Sunday’s Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden at Baden-Baden in Germany.

The $330,000 Grosser Preis Von Baden, Germany’s top race for older horses, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. Trainer Andreas Wohler said the Arc de Triomphe is the first autumn goal for Novellist, a 4-year-old colt by Monsun who races for Christoph Berglar.

Novellist won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in France in June and the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. He is listed as a 5-1 shot to win the Arc in future-book betting with British bookmakers.

The Grosser Preis Von Baden is run over 1 1/2 miles. Seismos – trained by Wohler – and Empoli, the first two finishers of the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern in Munich on Aug. 11, are two other contenders.

◗ In Ireland, the group stakes winners Kiyoshi and Tapestry are expected to dominate the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes for 2-year-olds fillies over seven furlongs at The Curragh. The race offers a fees-paid berth to the winner for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita in November.

Kiyoshi won the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, while Tapestry won the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at The Curragh on Aug. 11.