6 Abr. GER. Gran Prix Aufgalopp. G3. Koln. 2.200 mts. Turf. 50.000 €
1.- ORIENTAL TIGER (T.Hellier)
2.- DWILANO (J.Palik)
3.- WHITE LIGHTNING (J.Bojko)


Oriental Tiger (Tiger Hill) ran out a comfortable winner of the first group race of the German season, the 2200m (11f) G.3 Grand Prix Aufgalopp at Cologne this afternoon.

After a furious fight to the head of the field after the break, Oriental Tiger took the lead from Eiswind (Monsun), Sereth (Monsun) and White Lightning (Sternkönig).

Egerton (Groom Dancer), who was sent off favourite, opted for a backmarker position as the leaders set a strong pace, with old foe and ex-Aidan O’Brien-trained Poseidon Adventure (Sadler’s Wells) just two lengths in front.

Half way around the final bend the pace picked up. Terry Hellier on Oriental Tiger kicked on and was soon leading by two lengths. White Lightning was struggling in second with 1½ furlongs left to run and was soon passed by Dwilano (Silvano) under a determined ride from Jiri Palik.

At the wire it was Oriental Tiger who won by two lengths from Dwilano. White Lightning stayed on for third with Eiswind back in fourth.

Egerton, when asked the question by Torsten Mundry, never responded and finished last but one in the field of nine.

This was only the second win for Oriental Tiger in twelve starts. The Peter Rau-trained five year-old won on his racecourse debut at two and, although only twice out of the first three since, had failed to win. He has been off the track since last July when finishing last of six in Schiaparelli’s G.1 Deutschland Preis. He made his mark at the highest level when finishing runner-up to Prince Flori in the G.1 Grosser Preis von Baden in 2006.