Erasmus, a son of Westbury Stud shuttle stallion Reliable Man, has rocketed into favouritism for next year’s German Derby care of a runaway victory in the Gr.3 Preis der Winterfavoriten (1600m).
The impressive winner of Sunday’s renewal at Cologne scored with such authority that there is little doubt that he is the best of his generation in his home country.
Gestut Rottgen’s homebred Erasmus had finished third on his debut before winning an EBF maiden over the course and 1600m distance three weeks ago.
Erasmus is from the first northern hemisphere crop by Reliable Man (Dalakhani), winner of the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club in France and the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in Australia. He has been shuttling between Westbury Stud in New Zealand and Gestut Rottgen in Germany and will stand at Haras du Thenney in France 2018.
Trained by Markus Klug, Erasmus is the fourth foal of the 2010 Gr.1 Preis der Diana winner Enora (Noverre), who has previously produced winners by Oasis Dream and Teofilo.