Hamburg: Ivanhowe poised to win German Derby

Ivanhowe, the winner of the Group 2 Oppenheim Union-Rennen in Cologne on June 16, will be favored to win his first Group 1 in Sunday’s $640,000 German Derby at Hamburg.

Trained by Wilhelm Giedt, Ivanhowe, a German-bred colt by Soldier Hollow, won the Union-Rennen at 1 3/8 miles on turf as the 9-5 favorite by 2 1/2 lengths over Empoli. Cristian Demuro has the mount on Ivanhowe in the German Derby, which is run at 1 1/2 miles on turf for colts and fillies.

Other German Derby contenders include the Irish-bred colts Nicolosio and Probably, who were the first two finishers of a listed stakes in Hanover, Germany on May 20, and Global Bang, the runner-up in the Germany 2000 Guineas at Cologne on May 20.

Nicolosio, by Peintre Celebre, and Probably, who is by Danehill Dancer, were separated by seven lengths in the Hanover race at 1 3/8 miles.

While Probably was comprehensively beaten, the colt had promising form in Ireland last year, winning the Group 2 Railway Stakes on the Irish Derby program and later finishing third in the Group 3 Beresford Stakes.

Trainer Peter Schiergen, who won the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with the filly Danedream, has two German Derby runners in Empoli and Lucky Speed, the winner of the Group 3 Bavarian Classic at Munich on May 26.