There are fewer more familiar names than Marcel Weiss when it comes to the German racing scene and he ought to hold every chance of enjoying success in the opening 1600m Persil Race I HKJC World Pool Cup courtesy of Reine des Roses.

The daughter of Japan was a promising fourth on debut over 1600m and after a lesser effort when dropped to 1400m at Krefeld, she bounced back to form to find just one horse too strong back over this trip at Hanovre last month.

That experience over this distance should stand her in good stead and with Sibylle Vogt doing the steering from box six, plenty will be expecting her to put up a bold bid as she attempts to shed the maiden tag.

Classic-winning trainer Peter Schiergen looks like fielding a potential improver in the shape of Daiana, who despite only beating one horse home, showed notable promise when sixth on debut over 1500m at Cologne having been sent off a well-fancied contender in the market.

A three-year-old daughter of Havana Grey, La Coeur has found the frame on two of her last three outings and looks interesting now sent back up in distance, while any market support for the Gerald Geisler-trained newcomer Megan’s Crackers would be worth noting, especially with Rene Piechulek booked to do the steering.

Age Of Aquarius cannot be ruled out on the back of his runner-up effort over the same journey at Hamburg and it would be tough to ignore the claims of Wilela, who makes his highly anticipated first outing since finishing a hugely promising second on debut at Hanover back in October last year.

Sweet On You could only finish seventh on debut at Cologne earlier in the month but certainly has the pedigree to do better being by Godolphin’s multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Space Blues.

Others to note include the three-year-old debutant by Ultra, Le Magistrat, as well as Rabea, who should do better now following his introduction when sixth of six over 1400m at this venue last month.

Photo: Marc Ruehl