Joe Tuite takes aim at Deutsches Derby with Surrey Thunder

3.50 Hamburg
IDEE 150th Deutsches Derby (Group 1) | 1m4f, 3yo

Lambourn trainer Joe Tuite bids for Classic glory at Hamburg on Sunday when Surrey Thunder contests the 150th running of the Deutsches Derby (3.50pm BST).

The Surrey Racing-owned three-year-old finished a nose second in the Listed Prix Francois Mathet at Saint-Cloud on his return in March and has subsequently taken third in a couple of Group 3 events at Longchamp and Baden-Baden.

Last year’s champion apprentice Jason Watson rides Surrey Thunder for the first time in the €650,000 (£585,586) event, which has been landed once before by a British challenger when Buzzword struck for Mahmood Al Zarooni in 2010.

Tuite said on Saturday morning: “The step up in trip will help him and he has a realistic chance. He’s one of five or six horses in there who have ran to a similar level.

“They have not had much rain over there yet but the forecast suggests a fair amount is on its way and every bit that falls helps us as he copes with soft ground.

“We’ve had this race in mind for him all season and there’s very good prize-money on offer.”

Jason Watson: rides Surrey Thunder in the German ClassicCredit: Edward Whitaker

Watson enjoyed international success aboard the Roger Charlton-trained Headman in the Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud last Sunday and will compete against two familiar riders in the 16-runner German Classic.

Pat Cosgrave takes the mount on recent Munich winner Amiro, trained by Michael Figge, while Jack Mitchell partners the Roland Dzubasz-trained Andoro.

The Andreas Wohler-trained Laccario heads the market and arrives on the back of a Group 2 success at Cologne, while Quest The Moon landed the Group 3 Prix Du Lys at Longchamp in May.

Markus Klug has landed the last two renewals with Windstoss and Weltstar and saddles a five-strong team headed by the Adrie de Vries-ridden Dschingis First.

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