With ParisLongchamp's Arc weekend bonanza looming large on the horizon, European stakes activities gear down a notch for Sunday. However, the day doesn't lack for class and headlining the action is Cologne's €125,000 G1 59th Preis von Europa over 12 furlongs. Kirsten Rausing's homebred 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the lone international raider, is undefeated in three outings for Sir Mark Prescott this season and returns to Germany after annexing Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in her latest start. The reopposing Nerium (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), last term's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victrix Sunny Queen (Ger) (Camelot {GB}) and Kaspar (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}), runner-up in this contest last year, were left trailing in her wake last time.
Alpinista's chief threat comes from the younger generation, headed by this year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden runner-up Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}). Darius Racing's Henk Grewe trainee had subsequent G2 Grand Prix de Deauville fourth Sea of Sands (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) back in 13th in the July 4 Hamburg Classic and is set to challenge for favouritism. Gestut Schlenderhan seeks a record-equalling fourth win and is represented by the sophomores Northern Ruler (Ger) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) and Walkaway (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Northern Ruler, an Andreas Wohler trainee, prevailed in Chantilly's June 20 Prix du Lys and ran third in last month's G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville. Walkaway, from the Markus Klug barn, finished fourth in Dusseldorf's Aug. 1 G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and lines up here off a second in last month's G2 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden.
Earlier on the Cologne card, six 2-year-olds head postward for the 7 1/2-furlong Listed Ursula Rosendahl-Preis Winterkonigin Trial. As the name suggests, it's a stepping to Baden-Baden's Oct. 17 G3 Preis der Winterkonigin, Germany's leading event for juvenile fillies, and Gestut Park Wiedingen's homebred Dishina (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) will bid to add lustre to her resume after posting an impressive 2 1/2-length tally in a six-furlong Hoppegarten maiden last month. Her rivals include Antoine Griezmann's consistent G3 Prix d'Aumale sixth Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}), from the Philippe Decouz stable, and El Sur Racing's Munich maiden winner and Michael Figge trainee La Estrellita (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who ran second to subsequent G3 Prix Eclipse runner-up Best Flying (Fr) (Pedro the Great) in a €102,500 BBAG sales-related race at Baden-Baden last month.
Group race action is also in store in Ireland with the seven-furlong G3 Weld Park S. and G3 Raa Atoll Loughbrown S., over two miles, standing out on The Curragh's eight-race programme. Heavy rain is forecast to hit the Co. Kildare venue in the afternoon and a slew of withdrawals will follow if the track's condition, rated as good for now, is significantly altered beyond its present status. Amo Racing's Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is highly unlikely to make the journey from England and carry a five-pound penalty in the Park S. for juvenile fillies–having won Friday's G2 Unibet Rockfel S. at Newmarket–and skipping the engagement will leave 10 standing for the €50,000 heat.
Lindsay Laroche's four-race maiden Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}), a £100,000 Mount Coote Stud graduate of last year's Goffs Orby sale, seeks a first win of any kind and her form in defeat bears scrutiny. The Gavin Cromwell trainee progressed from reversals at Roscommon and Bellewstown to finish a two-length second to Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the Aug. 21 G2 Debutante S., over this course and distance, and followed up over the same strip with a third behind Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Agartha in the Sept. 12 G1 Moyglare Stud S. last time. Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of two Ballydoyle contenders, ran fourth in the Moyglare and was also behind Sunset Shiraz in the Debutante. Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's Listed Churchill S. victrix Seisai (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) comes back off a fourth in the Debutante and is accompanied by Joseph O'Brien stablemate Albula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was second in the Aug. 27 G3 Flame of Tara S. tackling one mile here when last seen. Teme Valley Racing's Galway winner Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is the third of Joseph O'Brien's runners and is joined by maiden winners Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), a Moyglare Stud nominee from the Jessica Harrington stable, and Flaxman Stables Ireland's Cigamia (Karakontie {Jpn}), representing Willie McCreery.
The stamina-sapping Loughbrown has gone the way of Aidan O'Brien or Dermot Weld in five of the last eight renewals and the powerhouse stables are set to engage once more. Ballydoyle sends forth G1 Grand Prix de Paris fourth and G1 St Leger third The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) while Rosewell House depends on dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran sixth in this month's latest edition of that Classic.
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