Dettori narrowly denied Classic glory as Sammarco wins dramatic German Derby

Sunday: IDEE 153rd Deutsches Derby, Hamburg

Frankie Dettori narrowly missed out on Classic success on Sunday when So Moonstruck came out third best in a photo-finish to the Group 1 German Derby.

Dettori looked in pole position to land a second win in the race when hitting the front with less than a furlong to go, but was caught on the line by the Peter Schiergen-trained Sammarco, with the pair split by rank-outsider Schwarzer Peter.

Sammarco's win provided Schiergen with his sixth win in the race, while it was a landmark first success in the Classic for jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.

"I'm lost for words, that felt amazing," the winning jockey said.

Cieren Fallon's mount, Assistent, stayed on to finish fourth while Hollie Doyle endured a nightmare passage on Wagnis, who was at the rear of the field from the start and narrowly avoid falling when appearing to clip a rival's heels on the home turn.

The pair stayed on to finish 11th, while Richard Kingscote and Jack Mitchell also finished down the field in tenth on Mylady and 13th on Dapango respectively.

The drama was not confined to the race as the start was delayed by 25 minutes while remedial work to the running rail took place with the runners already down at the start.

Doyle beats Frankie Dettori odds-on shot for first German Group winner

While she was out of luck in the German Derby, Doyle notched another landmark in her glittering career when landing her first Group-race success in Germany aboard Well Disposed in the Mehl Mulhens-Trophy.

Doyle, who celebrated major European success in the Prix de Diane in France last month, showcased herself on the international stage once more when guiding the Markus Klug-trained three-year-old to glory in the Group 3 over 1m3f.

Hollie Doyle: on the mark in Germany on SundayCredit: Julien De Rosa (AFP Getty Images)

Having been up with the leaders in the early stages, the daughter of Dubawi kicked on turning into the home straight and was not for catching under Doyle.

Well Disposed headed a one-two for British-based riders after Klug's other runner Mountaha was a fast-finishing second under Frankie Dettori.

"It's just great to be here and the reception is amazing," Doyle said. "I rode her to make the running but we weren't going quick at all in the early stages.

"I needed to make use of her pretty quickly, but she responded really well and won well in the end."

Doyle had finished second on her first ride at Hamburg earlier on the card when Navratilova was second to Arina in the Sparkasse Holstein Cup.

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