Windstoss emulates his sire to land a first top-level success

In securing the biggest victory of his career in the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg on Sunday Windstoss emulated his sire Shirocco with success in the German Classic. In the process, the three-year-old became the sixth top-level winner for Shirocco alongside Brown Panther, Calendula, January Jones, Pateo Do Batel and Soe In Tieme.

The Markus Klug-trained colt was held up in the early stages of the contest before making a bid for the spoils over two furlongs from home. Taking the lead from Enjoy Vijay, a son of Nathaniel, he eventually prevailed by a length.

A Gestut Rottgen homebred, he is the first foal out of the winning Sternkoenig mare Wellenspiel who is also the dam of a two-year-old Soldier Hollow colt called Weltstar and a yearling colt by Reliable Man named Walerian.

She in turn is out of the Listed-winning Konigsstuhl mare Well Known and is a half-sister to Europa Preis hero Well Made and a sister to Listed scorer Weichsel. It is interesting to note that his pedigree features Konigsstuhl on both his paternal and maternal side - he is the sire of Windstoss' grandsire Monsun and his aforementioned granddam.

Shirocco's talents are not restricted to the exploits of his Flat-based offspring as he is also a renowned dual-purpose sire whose leading progeny in the National Hunt sphere is none other than Champion Hurdle heroine Annie Power.

The 16-year-old Shirocco, who stands at Glenview Stud, was trained by Andre Fabre to win seven races including four at the highest level - the Deutsches Derby, Gran Premio del Jockey Club, Breeders' Cup Turf and Coronation Cup.

2.40 Hamburg result