Schiaparelli triumphs in German Derby

Schiaparelli followed in the footsteps of his full brother Samum on Sunday, when he won the Group 1, $816,000 German Derby at Hamburg.

Off as the 2.70-1 favorite under Andrasch Starke, Schiaparelli quickened to lead through the final sixteenth of the German Derby, defeating Dickens by a length. Oriental Tiger finished another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. The time for the 1 1/2 miles on good ground was 2:30.94.

Like Samum, who won the 2000 German Derby, Schiaparelli is owned by Franz Gunther von Gaertner, whose nom de course is Stall Blakenese. Schiaparelli is also a full brother to von Gaertner's 2002 German Oaks winner, Salve Regina. After three straight wins going 1 3/8 miles earlier this year, he was an unlucky second last time against older horses in the 1 1/2-mile Group 1 Deutschland-Preis. Trainer Peter Schiregen said that Schiaparelli would be aimed at the Sept. 3 Grosser Preis von Baden, a 1 1/2-mile Group 1 that Samum won in 2001, and in which Salve Regina was second in 2002.

German-trained horses had a big day in France on Sunday, winning both Group 2 races at Maisons-Laffitte. The filly Boccassini beat juvenile colts in the 5-1/2-furlong Prix Robert Papin at 6.40-1; the 10.30-1 Flashing Numbers, a Maryland-bred son of Polish Numbers, beat Epsom Derby runner-up Dragon Dancer by two lengths in the 1 1/4-mile Prix Eugene Adam.