Three-year-old filly Erle became the fourth individual Group One winner for Reliable Man when streaking clear to bag Sunday’s Gr.1 Preis Der Diana (2200m) at Dusseldorf.
Having landed the Gr.3 Diana Trial (Gr 3, 2000m) at Hoppegarten on her previous outing, the Maxim Pecheur-trained filly took out the feature after she cleared away from her rivals inside the final furlong to beat the fast-finishing Spanish Eyes by a length.
Erle is bred and raced by prominent German breeders Gestut Rottgen and prepared by Maxim Pecheur.
Five years after winning the Preis Der Diana as a jockey, Maxim Pecheur achieved a classic victory in his first year as a trainer, and thus his first Group One win in his new profession.
“It’s hard to describe. We’ve had a great season, but to win a Diana is indescribable. A big compliment to the whole team,” said Maxim Pecheur after the race.
“She was the highest rated German horse in the race. I really hoped that she would win, she is physically superior to most of the other horses,” said Gestut Rottgen’s Frank Dorff.
Reliable Man, a son of Dalakhani, won the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) and Gr.2 Prix Niel (2400m) in 2011, as well as finishing third in the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m). The following year he was third in the Gr.1 Prix Ganay (2400m) and fourth behind Danedream in the Gr.1 King George (2400m) for Alain du Royer-Dupre and his breeder Sven Hanson, who owned him in various partnerships during his racing career.
The grey was switched to Australia and the stable of Chris Waller and won the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, defeating Dundeel, before retiring to stud, having sustained a career-ending injury in victory.
He stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand and shuttled to Gestut Rottgen for four seasons, then to France for three years, before another two-year stints at Rottgen but he has remained a permanent resident in New Zealand over the past few years.
Erle is one of 27 individual Stakes winners for Reliable Man, who is also the sire of Group One winners Miami Bound, Sentimental Miss and Inspirational Girl.
Reliable Man will stand at a service fee of $12,500 + GST at Westbury Stud this season.