Roger Varian confident Defoe can call the shots in Munich Group 1

1.15 Munich
Grosser Preis Von Bayern | G1 | 1m4f

Defoe attempts to finish his four-year-old campaign on a high in Germany where he tackles six rivals, including the British trained pair Racing History and Dee Ex Bee, in the penultimate Group 1 of the year in Europe.

Roger Varian's colt has not had much luck since winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in May, including when just denied by subsequent Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution on his latest German race at this level at Baden-Baden in September.

The German-trained pair Iquitos and Windstoss, third and fourth respectively that day, again oppose.

Defoe, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid will be partnered again by Andrea Atzeni, who landed this race in 2013 on the Marco Botti-trained Seismos.

Since his defeat by Best Solution, Defoe was drawn wide when failing to cut much ice in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last time but should find this more his level and will appreciate the easy conditions.

Varian said: “Defoe was a dealt a difficult draw in the Arc, while he found the ground lively in a race of that calibre. He has come out of the contest okay and he’ll enjoy getting back on an easier surface. I think he sets the standard on the pick of his form and he deserves to win a race in top-flight company.”

Godolphin are represented by the fragile Racing History, who makes only his second appearance in two years in the €155,000 race.

The Pivotal horse finished second in the same 1m4f race two years ago and came back to Germany when third on his only subsequent appearance in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten in 2017.

Racing History: makes only his second appearance in two yearsCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

Before that, Racing History, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, won the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor in 2015 and went on to finish fourth in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot later the same year.

Bin Suroor, seeking a fourth Group 1 success in Germany this year, said: “Racing History has had his problems. He was unsound for a long time, but has being going well at home recently. He will come on for his first start of the year, but I have been happy with his work and I am looking for a good run."

Mark Johnston's Dee Ex Bee, who ran a career best when chasing home Masar in the Derby, is the mount of Franny Norton and is back in trip after finishing fourth in the St Leger in September.

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