Hot-favourite Novellist set for Deutsches Derby
Preview: Germany, Sunday (4.40pm BST)
Hamburg: Sparda 143rd Deutsches Derby (Group 1) 1m4f, turf, 3yo colts and fillies
Novellist will need to overcome history on Sunday afternoon when the Andreas Wohler-trained colt, ridden by Eduardo Pedroza, attempts to win the Group 1 Sparda 143rd Deutsches Derby in Hamburg as the hottest favourite for a quarter of a century.
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The most valuable race in the German calendar has proved a graveyard for market leaders over the past five seasons, while Komoda, the last odds-on favourite in 1987, could finish only third, but Novellist, a son of Monsun, is unbeaten in four outings, and was particularly impressive winning the most recent reliable trial, the Union-Rennen in Colgne three weeks ago.
Wohler also saddles second-favourite Black Arrow (Frankie Dettori) along with Andolini (Josef Bojko) - successful on the stable's second-string twelve months ago - and Russian Song (Eugen Frank).
Wohler, who is bidding for his fourth triumph in the race, said: "I have to be confident as my horses are all in good form and have been training well. Novellist is very classy and his preparation has been smooth, what beats him will win. I am also very happy with Black Arrow. He does not have to make the running, but needs a fast-run race and I think this distance will suit him better than the ten furlongs [last time] in Munich.
"Andolini will definitely run better this time than in the Union-Rennen. but is better on the soft, while Russian Song is also no forlorn hope so I have every justification in feeling optimistic."
Also in the line-up is Michael Figge's Italian Derby winner, Feuerblitiz, who will again have Robert Havlin aboard.
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