The 54-year-old jockey Adrie de Vries caused a sensation on Friday at the racecourse in Iffezheim and won the highest-paying race for two-year-olds in German turf.
In the saddle of the two-year-old stallion Wikinger, de Vries showed a classy ride and gave the competition no chance in the Ferdinand Leisten Memorial, which was worth 200,000 euros. The favorite Ghorgan (Clement Lecouevre) took second place after 1400 meters ahead of Emir (Thore Hammer-Hansen).
Gerald Geisler trains the winner on site in Iffezheim for the Cometica of Rudolf and Cecilia Helber from Switzerland. “I almost had a heart attack,” said the owner, describing the emotional tension in the final phase of the race. From the 30,000 euros that Winkinger cost at the yearling auction in Iffezheim a year ago, the owners have now made a 100,000 euros bonus for winning this race.
“This is an overwhelming day for me,” said trainer Geisler, “I was allowed to choose the horse, the owners gave me free rein, this is a very emotional victory. Jockey Adrie de Vries rode brilliantly.”
De Vries, a native of the Netherlands, is one of the oldest jockeys in Europe and is still at the top of his profession. After the weekend he will set off again for a winter stay in Dubai, where he has been riding over the winter with great success for years.