Atzeni steers Angers to German Guineas gold

PA Sport Reporters
May 29, 2023 3:38 pm

French-trained winner at Cologne.

Andrea Atzeni partnered Angers to an impressive victory in the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen at Cologne on Monday.

Atzeni, who now rides as a freelance, teamed up with Mario Baratti, who is based in France, to win the German equivalent of the 2000 Guineas and deny Charlie Johnston and Ioritz Mendizabal with Finn’s Charm in second.

Angers had only won one of his six starts in France, and was third to Jean-Claude Rouget’s French Guineas fifth Valimi on his most recent outing.

Finn’s Charm attempted to make all under Mendizabal, with Roger Varian’s previously unbeaten Dragon Icon and Benacre, a stablemate of Finn’s Charm, within touching distance.

The leader briefly looked to have slipped the field before Atzeni brough Angers with a powerful run down the outside and he went on to win by six lengths.

Finn's Charm was second in the German Guineas — Finn’s Charm was second in the German Guineas (Steve Welsh/PA)

Dhangadhi was third, just ahead of Benacre and Dragon Icon.

“He’s a lovely, big horse and ran very well in France the last day,” Atzeni told Wettstar.

“He gave me a nice feel going down to the start and his trainer Mario Baratti has done a great job to keep him spot on for this race, as it’s never easy to travel a horse to a different country.

“He looked the best horse in the paddock and he was by far the best horse in the race.”