The rush for the Grand Prix of St. Moritz at White Turf 2026 is significantly greater than last year.
08.12.2025, 19:53
SDA
24 horses from three nations have been entered for the 85th edition of the 100,000 Swiss franc race on February 22. Twelve months ago, there were only 16 entries, which is why the date was extended at the time. To the delight of the organizers, this is not necessary for 2026 thanks to the larger line-up. As in previous years, Switzerland's most lucrative horse race will be held under the patronage of the Evangelos Pistiolis Foundation.
The current entry list includes 13 horses from Swiss quarters, six from Germany and five from Great Britain. Among the potential starters, last year's winners Saadi (2025) and Moderator (2024), both trained by Andreas Schärer and owned by Anton and Vreni Kräuliger, who have also entered Queroyal (three times runner-up in St. Moritz), stand out in terms of snow experience. Also on the list with snow-winning experience is Top Max from trainer Karin Suter-Weber, owned by the Bärtschi stable, who also have Canouann and Nerion in their line-up.
The duo of the Prättigau couple Peter and Rita Hartmann have won the last two Grand Prix Jockey Club events in Dielsdorf: De Florio is a snow novice, while his stablemate Singledon has twice finished third in the Engadin. Both are owned by Claudia Erni in Avenches.
The Swiss champion trainer Josef Stadelmann has named Wiltshire Lad from Barbara Schennach and Arkinthestars, who has just arrived in his stable from England. The three-year-old from the ForzAgricula stable cost around 65,000 Swiss francs at the Tattersalls auction, won three races in 15 starts and finished second five times. Miro Weiss, who is nearing the end of his successful career and has won 98 White Turf races to date, has named Look To Remember for René Leiser and Diamond Ranger for his nephew Ricardo Weiss.
The international class of possible starters is characterized by some top-class British and German entries. Bravais, third at Group II level in Paris in 2023, comes from England. His trainer Ian Williams has also named Nizam (cost 90,000 euros at Arqana in Deauville on November 17) and Parlando. Spinello, who is still without a trainer and was knocked down for 36,000 euros on the same day as Nizam in Deauville, belongs to Laetitia Domenig from Chur.
Principe (owner Klaus Allofs and Gestüt Fährhof; fresh third in a Group III race in Milan) and Turlow (5 starts, 4 wins) from the stable of champion trainer Peter Schiergen stand out from Germany. Other candidates mentioned are Lord Melbourne (trainer Ralph Beckett), Snow Player (Michael Figge), Dark Viper (John Harrington), Sames Rules Apply (Stefanie Konyuncu), Stay First (Sascha Smrczek) and the Swiss Derby winner 2024 Nachthimmel (Christian von der Recke).
