Following the weather-related cancellation of the first planned race day, the first race day of the White Turf meeting is now to take place on the frozen Lake St. Moritz next Sunday.
07.02.2025, 04:30
07.02.2025, 07:19
SDA
On Wednesday, the ice and snow course was examined in detail using a thermal imaging camera and georadar. The cold nights helped, so that racing should be possible on Sunday. Another drone flight with the thermal imaging camera and georadar measurements will take place on Friday. These safety precautions were massively expanded after an incident eight years ago. As a result, those responsible at the St. Moritz racing club are now in a much better position to assess the conditions beneath the white surface of the racecourse.
The first race day of the Swiss horse racing season is promising from a sporting point of view. In six races, 47 horses from Germany, France, Ireland, Hungary and Switzerland are expected to compete for prize money totaling 95,000 Swiss francs. Experienced snow specialists will meet top-class challengers who will be galloping or trotting over the unfamiliar track of ice and snow for the first time. As is usual at horse races, bets can be placed on the outcome of the races in St. Moritz.
Sprint Grand Prix with two snow winners
The main event of the day is a sprint over 1300 meters. CHF 25,000 is up for grabs in the GP Christoffel Bau Trophy, with CHF 12,000 going to the winner. With the three-time White Turf winner Identified and Scipio (2023 snow winner), who is traveling from Germany, there are two candidates at the start on Sunday who have already finished first on the unfamiliar surface. Suprise of Easter, who was prepared in Hungary, finished second straight away in his only snow start last year.
The five rivals competing in St. Moritz for the first time all have what it takes to be among the front runners. Tortuguero has the highest handicap rating, although he has never run on such a short course before. Swiss newcomer Miguel, on the other hand, has impressed over sprint distances in England and should finish well ahead straight away. Rogue Spirit, who is aiming for victory with top German jockey Rene Piechulek, is also likely to do so. Gogoka will travel to the Engadin from Cagnes-sur-Mer, with the 2022 amateur world champion Jenny Langhard in the saddle. Xinonima, a stablemate of the Hungarian Surprise of Easter, will compete in an outsider role.
Dress rehearsal for the Grand Prix
From a sporting perspective, the fourth race of the day is awaited with particular excitement. The flat race over 1800 m with some of the best gallopers in Switzerland is the most important preparatory test for the Grand Prix of St. Moritz a week later over 2000 m, the highlight of the meeting with prize money of 100,000 Swiss francs.
The favorites are widely spread. Top Max and Abrams Creek have already won convincingly in St. Moritz, while Moderator was the winner of the St. Moritz Grand Prix two years ago. Anton and Verena Kräuliger, the most successful owners of flat horses in Switzerland, have two other hot irons in the fire in addition to Moderator: Queroyal ran very well in second place at the only snow start a year ago and the gray Saadi has been unbeaten for five months and four races.
Will the guests be able to do anything against the broad Swiss phalanx? Ireland's Gordon Grey won his opening gallop in Chelmsford, northwest of London, in mid-January. Tunezia was second in the Hungarian Derby last summer and may also have a say in the race. There are also promising guests in the two trotting races. A total of five horses will be traveling from Bavaria to try to break the streak of Swiss trotting victories at White Turf.
The battle for the crown in the UBS Skikjöring
Skijoring is high up in the public's favor. In the UBS GP in Silvaplana, four horses that have already gained experience in the St. Moritz world exclusivity meet three newcomers in this discipline. Will there be another queen? The winner of the overall UBS Trophy can traditionally call themselves Queen or King of the Engadine for a year.
In the meantime, women have become a strong contender in what was once a male domain. There have been four queens in the last seven editions. Valeria Schiergen has the best chance of defending her title with the newcomer Schael, who was prepared in Cologne. Her predecessor Valeria Selina Walther is once again counting on the trusty Atlantico, who is particularly good at skijoring. Fou de Reve with the experienced rider Erich Bottlang (King 1996) is the most successful Swiss steeplechase horse of the 2024 season. Stepney Causeway (Mark Adams) and Los Angeles (Leta Joos) have also been strong in skijoring. Fleur d'Ipanema (Fabrizio Padrun) has already won on snow and is now running her first skijoring race. Sir Vulcano (Andri Meyer) is another skijoring newcomer with potential.
Betting tips:
Race 1 (trot, 1700 m, Fr. 15'000.--): Fourteenth of July, Be Cool d'Eb, Domingo Bello, Elfe du Chatault
Race 2 (Flat, 1300 m, Fr. 25'000.--): Scipio, Miguel, Rogue Spirit, Surprise of EasterRace 3 (UBS-GP of Celerina, 2700 m, Fr. 20'000.--): Schael, Atlantico, Fou de Reve, Stepney Causeway
Race 4 (Flat, 1800 m, Fr. 15'000.--): Top Max, Queroyal, Gordon Grey, Abrams Creek
Race 5 (Trot, 1700 m, Fr. 10'000.--): Emir des Forges, Classic Chrono, Gorki Brio, Helios Debau
Race 6 (Flat, 1600 m, 10'000.--): Ispahan, Friendly Face, Alvediston, Nick Cassedy
