Oisin Murphy will be searching for a third Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2000m) aboard James Owens’ Wimbledon Hawkeye at Munich on Sunday. The race has been successfully targeted by foreign trainers over the past decade, with only one of the last five renewals falling to a domestic trainer (Peter Schiergen, 2022).

Murphy was successful in last year’s renewal aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Tornado Alert and will be having his first ride aboard the son of Kameko, successful in the Grade 3 Nashville Derby in 2023. Disappointing on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown Park, Wimbledon Hawkeye showed improved form to finish second behind Francis-Henri Graffard’s Map Of Stars in the Listed Wolferton Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot.

James Owen said: “It was a fantastic run [at Ascot] – and lovely to see him back into form. He has had a nice break, strengthened up a lot and come on for his debut run. I think he was beaten by a very good horse and we know we can travel with him.”

Other UK and Irish representatives include the 2024 Group 1 Futurity Trophy (1600m) winner Hotazhell, trained by Jessica Harrington, and Hamad Al Jehani’s Silawi. The latter made a successful international foray to win the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes (2400m) in October and swerved an intended engagement at Newbury on 18 July due to unsuitable ground.

Charlie Johnston’s Timeforshowcasing demonstrated an ability to travel when winning the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Dusseldorf in June.

Although subsequently disappointing in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot, Johnston was keen to explore a step up to 2000m after her Guineas victory, saying: “I’d also not rule out going up to 2000m if we wanted to. I think she’s probably better with a bit of ease in the ground which she had in Germany.”

Peter Schiergen’s six-time winner Santagada heads the home challenge. A versatile four-year-old filly, she heads to Munich following a strong second in the Grosser Hansa-Preis (2400m) at Hambourg-Horn.

Photo: Healy Racing