'I'm speechless!' - Jack Mitchell secures Group 1 breakthrough as Saddadd is victorious in Preis von Baden

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Jack Mitchell secured his breakthrough win at the highest level when Saddadd stayed on powerfully to deny Parachutiste and the globetrotting Giavellotto in the Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday.

The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old, who won the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown in April, was third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and fourth in the Coral-Eclipse before lining up in Germany.

Saddadd was made to battle hard all the way to the line by Parachutiste, trained by Francis Graffard, and following his game success, Paddy Power cut him to 12-1 (from 33) for the Breeders' Cup Turf. 

"The team has done a great job with him," said Mitchell, who also won this season's German 1,000 Guineas on Timeforshowcasing for Charlie Johnston. "I'm speechless! I can't believe we've done it.

Jack Mitchell: "I can't believe we've done it"Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"I was drawn wide and could have gone forward a bit more but the pace was okay. I kept my eye on Giavellotto and followed him through when he made his move to the outside. His stamina has shown up well today."

Following the yard's first Group 1 victory of the season, Varian added: "Giavellotto and the second are very good horses, so I think the form is true. There was no fluke about it and the best horse won today.

"He was third in a hot Tattersalls Gold Cup and then wasn't quite at his best in the Eclipse, but he's been shaping all year like a very good horse, so for me it's not a surprise he's won. I'm delighted for the team and Jack, who has been with me a long time."

Giavellotto was sent off a short-priced favourite for Marco Botti, having beaten subsequent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Kalpana when he was last seen in the Hardwicke Stakes, but he faded into fourth. With the Arc ruled out, the German Group 1 was viewed as a stepping stone to a potential Breeders' Cup tilt and the Hong Kong Vase, which he landed in 2024.

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