Alpinista completes hat-trick of German Group 1s

Kirsten Rausing's four-year-old filly Alpinista (Frankel) had yet to taste defeat in four prior outings this term and lined up for Sunday's Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich coming back off wins in the Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and Gr.1 Preis von Europa last time.

Taken from Thoroughbred Daily News, 8th November 2021

The homebred grey's second dam Albanova, who was also conditioned by Sir Mark Prescott, had rattled off a trio of German Group 1 triumphs in a nine-week spree during 2004 and she emulated her grandmother's feat and stayed perfect for the year with a third elite-level triumph of her own in the 12-furlong feature. The vanquished at Berlin in that penultimate start included subsequent Gr.1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso and the re-opposing Nerium, who also finished second in the Preis von Europa. Alpinista recovered from a stumble leaving the stalls and lobbed along under a taut rein, racing in a close-up second, passing the judge first time as old foe Nerium set the tone. In situ until turning for home, the 4-5 favourite was stoked into action for her challenge alongside Gr.2 Prix Eugene Adam fourth Mendocino approaching the two pole and stayed on strongly under continued rousting in the closing stages to outlast that rival by 3/4-of-a-length in game fashion.

Alpinista, kin to the unraced two-year-old filly Alpenblume and a yearling colt by Oasis Dream, is one of 20 Group 1 winners by her sire and the first foal produced by a stakes-winning half to four black-type performers out of the aforementioned Albanova. The quartet includes Gr.3 Legacy Cup victor Algometer, stakes-winning Gr.3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes placegetter Alignak and multiple stakes winner All At Sea. Albanova is one of four blacktype performers thrown by Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes third Alouette, whose descendants also include dual Gr.1 Champion Stakes heroine Alborada and stakes-winning Gr.1 Epsom Derby second Dragon Dancer. Alouette is kin to Gr.3 Doncaster Cup vixtrix Alleluia, herself the dam of Gr.1 Prix Royal Oak heroine Allegretto and Gr.2 Nassau Stakes winner Last Second, the latter being the dam of Gr.1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules.