Battling third for Ancient Wisdom in G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern

Ancient Wisdom stayed on to finish a close third behind Assistent and Tiffany in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich, Germany, on Sunday, 10 November. 

Last season’s G1 Futurity Trophy winner jinked right leaving the stalls in the 12-furlong highlight, slightly impeding Marquisat, and charted a wide course in fourth initially. 

William Buick took slightly closer order on the Charlie Appleby-trained colt with a circuit to race, moving up to dispute second on the outside of Atoso as War Chimes made the running. 

Ancient Wisdom quickened to briefly hit the front over two furlongs out, although he was soon headed by Tiffany, who went clear of the field approaching the final furlong. 

The Godolphin three-year-old rallied, despite shifting towards the far rail, and stuck to his task after Assistent took second with just over half a furlong to race. 

Assistent grabbed the lead from Tiffany close home to score by a neck, with another length and a half back to Ancient Wisdom. Marquisat made modest late gains to finish fifth, some 10 lengths behind the winner. 

Charlie Appleby said: “I was very pleased with Ancient Wisdom, who was taking on older horses for the first time. We hoped that he would finish in the first three to give us something to build on for next year, and he’s achieved that. 

“He looks the type to develop into a nice middle-distance or staying type in these conditions as a four-year-old, and we will map out his season with a view to the spring and the autumn.”