Star five-year-olds Iquitos and Guignol primed for latest clash

3.25 Hamburg
pferdewetten.de Grosser Hansa-Preis | Group 2 | 1m4f | 3yo+

While the main event on the second day of the Deutsches Derby meeting has attracted only six runners, a rich renewal is in store between old rivals Iquitos and Guignol with both camps in confident mood.

In 2016 Iquitos landed Germany's biggest all-age contest, the Grosser Preis von Baden, before running a fine seventh behind Kitasan Black in the Japan Cup for trainer Hans-Jurgen Groschel.

In between those two performances, he had no answer to Guignol in a Munich Group 1 at the beginning of November and was a neck behind his old foe on his seasonal reappearance at Baden-Baden last month.

Guignol already had a race in his legs, having finished sixth to Cloth Of Stars in the Prix Ganay when in need of the run.

"Guignol and Iquitos have run against one another four times and we lead three-one," said trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho. "I hope Guignol can make it four-one on Saturday. I think he's in the same shape as he was for their meeting in Baden-Baden. Iquitos will have a tough time beating him."

Andrasch Starke took over the ride on Iquitos at Baden-Baden last month and, having won no fewer than seven Derbies at Hamburg, is no less confident than Carvalho.

"He ran a great race first time out and he would probably have enjoyed softer ground, which he will get on Saturday," said Starke. "I'm very confident for Saturday. He's a very high-quality horse. He's only small but he's very tough and he has a big heart. The trainer deliberately started him back later because they have races abroad in mind later in the year, including in Britain and of course the Arc."

If there is to be a gatecrasher to spoil the reunion, it could be the only three-year-old in the line-up, the Eva Fabianova-trained Amigo.