Lifestyle
THE ULTIMATE EVENT: WHITE TURF ST.MORITZ
HOT RACES IN COOL SNOW
(Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo)
White Turf in beautiful St. Moritz attracted 13,800 spectators for the final races of February 2016. Rubis du Gilet was the four-legged hero of the “˜Grand Prix BMW´ among the trotters and Adrian von Gunten was victorious with Mombasa in the Skikjöring at the “˜Grand Prix Credit Suisse´.
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
The Grand Prix and the Skikjöring were run over the “˜normal´ distances. All the other races were shortened to 800m due to unusually warm weather conditions. The sum of bets placed amounted to 77,546 Swiss Francs .
The race day began with the “˜GP Moyglare Stud (NL)´, the first race over the distance of 800m. At the last gallop race, High Duty under Dennis Schiergen and trained by Karin Suter-Weber won sensationally just ahead of the English guest Boomerang Bob (William Carson). The two horses were only separated by a difference of one nose. The “˜Grand Prix Schlossatelier´ saw a double Irish victory. Here Eagle Valley (Ronan Whelan) from the quarters of Tracey Collins was clearly ahead of Duchess Andorra (Connor King). Christian von der Recke was once again victorious with Gild Master at the final “˜GP of the racetrack Berlin Hoppegarten´. Under Alexander Pietsch he passed the finishing line in front of Dancing Diamond (Nicolas Guilbert).
Jungleboogie trained by Christian von der Recke in Weilerswist for banker Jürgen Imm from Freiburg (Nizza stable), won the race with the highest prize money in Switzerland. Rene Piechulek had an advantage of two lengths, ahead of Soundtrack (Daniele Porcu) from the Swiss stable of Philipp Schärer and the British guest Berrahri (Kieren Fox) finished further two lengths behind.
The 13-year-old trotter Patchino nearly repeated previous success at the “˜Grand Prix BMW´. But this time the 11-year-old gelding Rubis du Gilet trained by Gabriela Schultheiss, was faster. With Armin Koller in the sulky, Rubis du Gilet won with an advantage of three-quarters of a length ahead of Patchino determined not to give up and proving to be a true snow specialist.
“˜I had stated ahead of the meeting on White Turf TV that Jungleboogie was the best of my three horses considering the conditions. And that´s how it went“˜, said Christian von der Recke radiant with joy, after winning the Grand Prix of the Engadine for the second time following his victory in 2014 with Future Security.
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
Five-year-old Nil Kamla was able to take the victory in the second race on snow among the Arab thoroughbreds at the “˜H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR). “˜We are extremely happy and were aware that she would run well. However, we had to consider that it is a young horse´, said trainer Franziska Aeschbacher. In the saddle of Nil Kamla ““ who won in truly superior fashion ““ was Anna van den Troost.
Three lengths behind the victorious duo was Oriental Myth under Astrid Wullschleger coming second. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said at the press conference that the commitment will be enhanced further and that there will be Arab races on all three race days next year on the frozen lake of St. Moritz.
Only three of the horses that started at the “˜Grand Prix CREDIT SUISSE´ reached the finishing line. Right at the start four horses lost their drivers. This did not hinder Mombasa from the stable of Peter Schiergen in Cologne, driven by Adrian von Gunten, to pass in front of Dreamspeed and his driver Franco Moro, and develop a considerable advantage. Way behind followed Cioccomia (Andy Willy) in third place. Due to his victory, Adrian von Gunten was also celebrated as the winner of the “˜Credit Suisse Skikjöring Trophy´. In addition to the prizemoney he received the “˜Credit Suisse King´s Cup´, especially created on behalf of Credit Suisse by the Swiss artist duo “˜Aubry Broquard´.
There is nothing like White Turf for history and tradition. White Turf is the race that owners, trainers, and jockeys want to win the most and St. Moritz provides the perfect backdrop.
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
Source: Ina von Ber /Andy Mettler Photo
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