Kaldera Up in Time in German St. Leger
Description:
Filly Kaldera steadily reeled in front-runner and favorite Virginia Sun and led in the closing stages to win the German St. Leger (Ger-III) Sept. 21 at Dortmund.
Stall Torjager's 3-year-old Sinndar filly, taking on older opponents, won by three-quarters of a length under French jockey Eddy Hardouin and covered 1 3/4 miles in 3:11.88 on very soft turf.
The victory marked a second consecutive stakes win for the filly, who came in off a victory Sept. 6 at Baden-Baden.
"She is small but all heart," trainer Paul Harley told Racing Post. "We were a bit worried as this race came only 15 days after her win at Baden-Baden, but she is one of the toughest horses I have ever known."
Virginia Sun overtook British-based Special Meaning to lead in early stretch and opened a clear advantage, but Kaldera wore her down with a sustained rally to take charge nearing the finish line.
German group III-placed stakes winner Virginia Sun, the 27/10 favorite with Racing Post, was 4 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Rock of Romance.
Kaldera, bred in Germany by Gestut Auenquelle, has won six of 10 career starts. She was produced by the stakes-winning Dai Jin mare Konigstochter.