Posted 3 July 2008
Updated 4 July 2008

This evening Hamburg will stage one of the most telling trials for the Preis der Diana, the German Oaks, run at Dusseldorf on 3 August.

The eleven-furlong G.3 Grosser Preis der Jungheinrich Gabelstapler, formerly known simply as the Fährhofer Stutenpreis, has attracted a field of ten, with two runners representing Irish and French stables.

Racecard available here

If the G.2 Diana Trial at Cologne three weeks ago is a good indicator of ability then Splash Mountain, ¾-length runner-up to Baila Me, would top the field however this was her first placing from three career starts.

One length back was Goathemala, a filly who saw the track for the first time a month previously and who solidly beat her rivals. She looks to have a lot of ability.

Auentime won her maiden at the third attempt last year and after placing fourth in Listed company in May ran fourth in the Diana Trial and looks to be progressing.

Sixth on that occasion was Larella who, in spite of running second in a Listed as a juvenile, has shown little form from two runs this term.

A pair of fillies who have raced just once to date are Waldemar Hickst’s Salve Germania, an easy maiden winner last month, and Umirage from the Hans Blume yard who was equally impressive. While it is difficult to assess form based on these runs, both come from in-form stables.

The inclusion of Lady Marian is an interesting one. Werner Baltromei, who has taken to chasing better prizemoney in France, has done precisely that with this filly but from five starts over two seasons she has managed to place just once. She was not disgraced however when fifth to subsequent G.2 Prix Malleret winner Treat Gently at Longchamp in May.

Rounding off the domestic runners is Ashantee who was thought to have decent ability but despite one Listed place has never really produced the goods in decent company, but does come off a solid win at Strasbourg over 10½ furlongs.

Of the two foreign raiders Alex Pantall’s Yarastar looks the better of the pair. Previously trained by Kevin Prendergast for whom she won her maiden at Tipperary, she left Ireland after her two year-old season. Not out of the money from four starts she comes off a good Listed win and looks a threat. The only question mark remains whether she will get the extra furlong today.

Eamonn Tyrrell, who ran Impetious for fifth place in the G.3 Preis der Spielbank on Wednesday, saddles Flure De Leise, a good maiden winner at the end of May. She has since disappointed in two runs, most recently eighth in the Ulster Oaks at Down Royal.

The Diana Trial form is unlikely to run true this evening and a number of fillies will have come on in the meantime. Goathemala and Yarastar are a pair worth keeping in mind while the maiden winners Lady Marian and Umirage could indeed have Oaks potential.
RacingNewswire