Sabiango tops Germany's premier race

Sabiango is poised to establish himself as a leading Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe candidate in the $745,000 Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden at the picturesque German course in Baden-Baden on Sunday.

The task of Sabiango, the recent winner of the Group 1 Grosser Kolner Pokal, was made easier with the withdrawals on Thursday of Hightori and Little Rock. Hightori, third in both the Dubai World Cup and the King George, has had to have two teeth removed, while Little Rock was taken out because the ground will not be soft enough.

Not that Sabiango would have been incapable of dealing with their challenges. A full brother to Arlington Million winner Silvano, he beat German Derby champ Boreal last time and will relish the good going and the 1 1/2-mile distance.

Silvano's rider, Andreas Suborics, has chosen Sabiango over his older stablemate Paolini, a two-time Group 1 winner in Italy this year. Sabiango and Paolini give trainer Andreas Wohler a strong hand to play in this fourth leg of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship, but they must beware not only of Boreal, but of Morshdi as well.

The Michael Jarvis-trained son of Slip Anchor was just four lengths behind Galileo when finishing second in the Irish Derby in the follow-up to his Italian Derby triumph. A repeat of either of those efforts will put him in the frame.

for the Grosser Preis von Baden.

Moyglare Stud Stakes Sunday at The Curragh

As expected, the seven-furlong Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes for juvenile fillies at The Curragh on Sunday boils down to a battle between the Maktoum brothers and their Aidan O'Brien-trained rivals from Ballydoyle in County Kildare.

O'Brien, seeking a repeat of last year's victory with Sequoyah, will send out four. Michael Kinane is aboard the best of them in Quarter Moon. A daughter of Sadler's Wells, she began her career with a sharp second in the Group 3 Debutante Stakes two weeks ago and is eligible to improve. O'Brien's other big threat in the 17-strong field is the enigmatic $3.4 million daughter of Serena's Song, Sophisticat. Placed in a Group 2 and a Group 3, she always seems to find a way to lose.

The choice, however, is Seba. An Alzao filly, she overcame a ton of trouble to beat colts in the listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. David Loder has freshened her since then and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, she can win this for Sheikh Mohammed.