BAD HARZBURG: OUTSIDER IN DRAMATIC LAKE RACE VICTORY

BAD HARZBURG: OUTSIDER IN DRAMATIC LAKE RACE VICTORY

Written on 23/07/23 by Darren Thrussell – info@anglogermanracing.com

Despite being the outsider of the four runners, GUIRI got up in the final strides to win the of the Preis der Stadtwerke Bad Harzburg Seejagdrennen lake race on Sunday, denying race favourite and lake race veteran Wutzelmann in a thrilling finish.

As usual in these types of races, there was plenty of drama in the lake section of the race. Having parted with jockey Kevin Parkin on the flat, Evander, one of three runners in the race for trainer Christian von der Recke, appeared to hamper leader Wutzelmann, and then took a left detour round the lake. In the ensuing chaos, Master Debonair, who like stablemates Guiri and Evander were running in a Seejagdrennen for the first time, appeared to follow Evander round the lake, despite jockey Hakim Tabet’s best efforts to turn him round, with the effect that Master Debonair then proceeded to walk backwards along the side of the lake, ending their participation in the race.

With the four-runner field now whittled down to two, it looked as if Wutzelmann was going to record his seventh success in this unique discipline. However, having jumped the last, jockey Sonja Daroszewski brought Guiri with a superbly timed run to deny Wutzelmann by a length.

Guiri actually started his career in Germany as a smart flat performer, and indeed ran in the 2018 German Derby, finishing ninth. A move to Ireland beckoned, where Guiri landed a 25 runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown for trainer Jessica Harrington in 2021. Having been pulled up in two of his five races and finishing last in the other three after joining English trainer Ben Haslam, Guiri had looked to be somewhat out of form this season, however appears to have been galvanised by his move to Germany.

You can see the race here:

Photo: Drama in the lake stage of the Preis der Stadtwerke Bad Harzburg Seejagdrennen lake race on Sunday as Master Debonair (right) runs out after following the loose Evander (foreground), whilst GUIRI (checked colours) went on to beat favourite Wutzelmann in an exciting finish (Video still copyright Deutscher Galopp / Wettstar).