Empoli Ends Long Drought in Preis von Europa

Disqualified from his second in the 2013 edition of the Preis von Europa (Ger-I), Empoli won this year's race without controversy when he overhauled pacesetter Earl of Tinsdal in the shadow of the post at Cologne.

 

Empoli edged ahead of the front-runner to score by a half length with Adrie de Vries, who was riding for trainer Peter Schiergen. 

 

The 4-year-old son of Halling ended a long winless drought of 11 races, dating from a maiden victory in April 2013 at Krefeld. 

 

Empoli was second last year to Seismos in the Grosser Preis von Bayern (Ger-I) and to eventual group I winner Ivanhowe in the Oppenheim-Union-Rennen (Ger-II) before finishing as the runner-up to Meandre in the Preis von Europa, from which both were disqualified. Stewards determined that Meandre impeded the run of Earl of Tinsdal a quarter mile out and demoted both him and Empoli in a shocking double disqualification. Third-place finisher Vif Monseiur, eighth this year, was elevated to the victory and Earl to Tinsdal to second.

 

Empoli's only on-the-board finish in five previous starts this season was a second  to French group winner Tasaday in a listed stakes in February at Meydan Racecourse. He also performed creditably with subsequent fourth-place finishes in Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) in March and the Investec Coronation Cup (Eng-I) in June. 

 

Sunday, Empoli was well positioned along the inside but was short of room in the stretch, prompting de Vries to switch him to the outside. With clear running room, he rallied smartly to catch Earl of Tinsdal nearing the finish. Night Wish finished third, 1 1/2 lengths back, after racing toward the back of the 11-horse field early.

 

The final time for 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) was 2:30.24 on good to soft turf.

 

Schiergen trains Empoli, who has a 2-4-0 record from 14 starts, for Valentin Bukhtoyarov and Evgeny Kappushev.

 

Empoli was supplement to the race earlier last  week. Gestut Ebbesloh bred him in Germany from the stakes-placed Acatenango mare Estefania.