Alpinista Group 1 Victory Feather in Cap for Prescott

Alpinista  capped a fine weekend for Sir Mark Prescott in style, winning the Sept. 26 Preis von Europa (G1) in Cologne.

It was a second successful group 1 raid on Germany this season with Kirsten Rausing's 4-year-old filly following her comfortable win in the Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) at Hoppegarten last month.

On that occasion she was partnered by Luke Morris and he was in the saddle again as she clawed back frontrunner Nerium  in the straight.

The daughter of Frankel  was driven down the center of the track a few furlongs out but responded well for pressure to take the lead entering the final furlong.

The 11-10 favorite won by 1 1/4 lengths over Nerium with main market rival Sisfahan , trained by Henk Grewe, back in third.

Unbeaten in four starts this season, Alpinista could bid for a first group 1 in Britain next as she holds an entry in the Oct. 16 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

Bookmakers reacted to her victory in Germany by cutting her for the Champions Day contest, with Paddy Power going 8-1 (from 10) although she is as short as 5-1 in places.

Prescott was not quite unbeaten this weekend, but won with four of his five runners after Alpinista's success added to a flawless Saturday.

The master of Heath House Stables won a seven-furlong novice contest at Chester with Mahagoni and a mile maiden at Chelmsford with juvenile Arclight, although the headline act of the treble was Summer's Knight's impressive 5 1/2-length victory in a 1 3/4-mile handicap at Haydock.

Prescott and Rausing also teamed up 17 years ago to win the Preis von Europa with Albanova, Alpinista's second dam.

Alpinista, bred by Rausing, is out of Alwilda, a daughter of French classic winner and Forte Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) runner-up Hernando and a full sister to two-time group 1 winner Alborada. Alpinista brought her record to five wins and two seconds in 10 starts.