Best Solution seeks more G1 success in Preis von Europa

Top middle-distance performer Best Solution returns to Germany for the G1 Preis von Europa over a mile and a half at Cologne, Germany, on Sunday.

The five-year-old posted two G1 victories over the same distance in the country for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor last year, gamely scoring by a neck in both the Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten and the Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden.

Best Solution went on to further G1 glory over 12 furlongs in Australia with another battling display in the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield in October and stayed on well to take eighth after missing the break in the two-mile G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington the following month.

The Kodiac horse makes his second appearance of 2019, having kept on to come home a close seventh in the G3 September Stakes over a mile and a half on Polytrack at Kempton Park, UK, on Sept.7.

Regular jockey Pat Cosgrave takes the ride on Best Solution, who faces nine others including the last two winners of the G1 Deutsches Derby, Weltstar and Laccario, plus this season’s G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin runner-up Communique.

Bin Suroor said: “Best Solution needed the run in the September Stakes and has come on for his first start of the season.

“His latest piece of work went well and he is ready to go. Any rain will help his chances but he heads to Germany in good condition and I am looking for a good run.”

Earlier on the same card, three-year-old filly Wishfully (Henri-Alex Pantall/Mickael Barzalona) steps up in trip for the extended nine-furlong Listed Kolner Stutenpreis.

Elsewhere, the proven G1 performer Best of Days and the up-and-coming Deprive head a Godolphin team that possesses strong prospects at Caulfield on Saturday.

The pair appear in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, a race that offers conditions to suit both horses.

As the highest-ranked runner in the race, Best Of Days (Dean Yendall) has obvious claims that are enhanced by a G3 victory at Caulfield last spring, his crowning effort in the G1 Cantala Stakes and two promising runs this time in.

“This could be the most winnable 1,400m race he’s raced in with only one last-start winner entered,” Cummings pointed out.

“He went to Caulfield on Tuesday morning and the reports were that he worked beautifully.”

“I’d like to think this will set him up for another G1 in the Toorak or the Epsom.”

Deprive (Rachel King) comes into the race off a last-start second at Moonee Valley that followed five successive victories.

“He’s earned the right to run in a good race like this,” Cummings said.

“He was beaten at Moonee Valley by an amazing performance by The Inevitable. I can see him storming to the line.”

The G1 contenders will be backed up by Etymology (Ben Melham) who runs in the G3 MRC Foundation Cup and Manicure who runs in the G3 How Now Stakes.

Etymology raced in the best form of his career last preparation and a most encouraging third at the second run of his current campaign suggested he has returned in similar order.

Victory in Saturday’s race, formerly the Naturalism Stakes, includes an exemption from the Caulfield Cup ballot. Should he come through Saturday’s race in good order he could then seek a Melbourne Cup exemption by winning the G3 Bart Cummings at Flemington next month.

“He’s appreciated the drier tracks and has performed really well after a long and successful campaign when last in work,” Cummings said.

Manicure runs in the G3 How Now Stakes with Cummings looking to earn Black Type in the wide selection of fillies’ and mares’ races in Melbourne.

“Manicure brings some pretty good form with her and we’d like to capitalise if we can on the good choice of mares races in Melbourne.”

Agencies