Bred by Gestüt Schlenderhan, Goliath is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard in Chantilly, France. For several years, the bay gelding has been among Europe’s elite performers and is owned by Resolute Bloodstock and Philip Baron von Ullmann. In 2024, he captured the prestigious King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, and the following year added the Wettstar155th Grosser Preis von Baden, both Group 1 contests. This season, he has already claimed victory in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard also saddled last year's Preis von Europa winner, Sibayan.

His strongest rival could be Dubai Honour, trained by William Haggas in Newmarket, England. The eight-year-old gelding is a true globetrotter and enjoyed a successful campaign in Australia earlier this year. He previously met Goliath in the 2025 Grosser Preis von Baden, where Dubai Honour finished runner-up.

Straight Returns After Long Absence

One of the race's biggest unknowns is the now six-year-old Straight, who races in the colours of Karlshof. Trained by Henk Grewe, he returns after more than a year on the sidelines. On his day, he is a top-class performer, as demonstrated in the 2024 Preis von Europa when he finished a close second behind the English favourite Rebel’s Romance.

Last year's German Derby winner Hochkönig has also faced several interruptions to his career. The four-year-old, owned by Stall Cloverleaf and trained by Yasmin Almenräder in Mülheim an der Ruhr, has yet to reproduce his best form this season. His latest outing in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, where he finished ninth, was particularly disappointing.

Seguro and Alter Meister Lead the Derby Generation

German racing fans may expect more from Seguro, who is trained by Andreas Suborics and competes on his home track. The three-year-old, owned by Stall Simply Red, has improved steadily throughout the season, winning two Group 3 races in Baden-Baden and Hamburg, and finishing fourth in the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. The Munich race has since been significantly boosted by the subsequent achievements of the horses that finished ahead of him.

Suborics also saddles Noble Lips, another representative of this year’s Derby generation. The filly finished third in the 168th Henkel-Preis der Diana (Group 1) but failed to confirm that form when contesting the T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis (Group 2) at Baden-Baden.

An even bigger outsider is likely to be fellow three-year-old Alter Meister. Trained by Waldemar Hickst for Stall Nizza, the colt returns from a lengthy break and will need to improve considerably to feature prominently.

An Impressive Roll of Honour

The Preis von Europa is one of only seven Group 1 races in Germany. A glance through its honour roll highlights the race's international stature since its establishment in 1963.

The Russian-bred Anilin, from Stud Farm Voskhod, remains unmatched after winning the race three consecutive times from 1965 to 1967. More recently, the dual winner Rebel’s Romance (2022 and 2024) stands out, having followed each of his Cologne victories with success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the United States.

Another notable champion is the British-trained Alpinista, who won the Preis von Europa as well as the Grosser Preis von Berlin and Grosser Preis von Bayern in 2021, before going on to triumph in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the following year.

Photo: Marc Ruhel