'This was the plan' - Prescott hails Morris after Alpinista lands first Group 1

Patience has forever been a hallmark of Sir Mark Prescott's enduring career and another long-term heist came off in style when Alpinista landed her first top-level victory in Sunday's Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin.

The four-year-old benefitted from a fine Luke Morris ride to break her Group 1 duck and take the £89,286 winning prize, which the celebrated Newmarket trainer and owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing also won with Alpinista's granddam Albanova in 2004.

"This was the aim and it's not often these things go according to plan is it?" Prescott said from his office at Heath House in Newmarket. "I never get tired of winning any race – aren't I lucky?

Grosser Preis von Berlin full result

"I just like winning races and while the horses are doing so – like most trainers – I'm very happy."

Second to the high-class Love in last year's Yorkshire Oaks, Alpinista was two from two this term but needed to fight to deny last year's winner Torquator Tasso and Godolphin's Walton Street, a fellow Newmarket raider from the Charlie Appleby yard.

"She stays, doesn't she?" Prescott added, "I thought Luke rode an excellent race. She was the first of the principals under pressure and I thought Luke shut the favourite [Torquator Tasso] in nicely turning for home, which I was delighted with.

"She just got stronger the further she went and when she won the Lancashire Oaks, she was well on top at the end, but not certain to win with 150 or 200 yards to go – she really stays."

Sir Mark Prescott: ended a long wait for another top-level success with AlpinistaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Prescott, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first winner this year, has a plan in place to transfer his licence to assistant William Butler, but when that happens is not certain and one of the sport's great characters is not in a hurry to change things, particularly after landing his first Group 1 since Marsha's Nunthorpe win in 2017.

He said: "William will take over when I fall off the perch, but poor William has been with me 20-something years and I torture him terribly.

"When Jim Bolger had the first and second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas I said, 'There you are, William, there's Jim Bolger, a lesson to us all, 79 and getting better and better!'"

Alpinista could be in line for a return to attempt a top-level double in Germany, with next month's Preis von Europa at Cologne a next possible target.

Read more:

Sir Mark Prescott: 'I was completely stitched up - it was a bitter experience'

'Too many are in one kennel' - Sir Mark Prescott on why the Derby isn't the same

Alpinista the latest celebrity from star-studded Kirsten Rausing family

Like father, like son: Sisfahan emulates sire Isfahan to land German Derby

German raider Axana overcomes Brexit delays to plunder Group 3 prize

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