Guignol, Ashiana win German stakes to earn Breeders' Cup berths

Guignol won his second Group 1 race in the last 12 months in Sunday’s $296,475 Grosser Preis Von Baden at Baden-Baden Racecourse in Germany, earning a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

A 7-2 chance, Guignol, ridden by Filip Minarik, led throughout the Grosser Preis Von Baden at 1 1/2 miles on turf, finishing 2 1/4 lengths in front of Iquitos, the 6-5 favorite who rallied on the inside in the stretch but did not threaten the winner.

The 3-year-old Colomano finished third in the field of six.

Guignol, a 5-year-old horse by Cape Cross, races for Stall Ullmann and trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho. Guignol won the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern in Munich last November, and Carvalho indicated after Sunday’s race that the same race is a goal this fall.

On Saturday at Baden-Baden, Ashiana won the Group 2 T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf, earning a fees-paid berth in the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 4.

Owner Eckhard Sauren said a trip to California is possible for Ashiana.

Ashiana (4-1) won the $83,314 T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis by a half-length over 5-1 Diana Storm after taking the lead in the final furlong. Erica, a 33-1 shot, finished third in the field of 11.

A 3-year-old filly by Mastercraftsman, Ashiana is trained by Peter Schiergen and was ridden by Andrasch Starke. Ashiana has won three of five starts and was fifth in the Group 1 German Oaks at Dusseldorf on Aug. 6. Schiergen is well known for training Danedream, the winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2011.