Michael Jakobsen and Peter Rasmussen’s fantastic Taifuu finally made her comeback after a lengthy injury break and beat the red-hot favourite Bruce Almighty in Derby Day’s Bet25 Larch Ærespræmie – warming up for Søren Jensen’s great triumph a little later in the evening.
Bruce Almighty (Appel Au Maitre) had been backed down to hot favouritism in the Bet25 Larch Ærespræmie, worth DKK 200,000, after his third place in the Svenskt Derby, but Niels Petersen’s colt had to admit defeat to a popular home-track heroine in the shape of the Søren Jensen-trained Taifuu (Japan).
The three-year-old filly won by three-quarters of a length under Oliver Wilson, collecting a first prize of DKK 100,000 for Jakobsen and Rasmussen.
Just as in the Bucherer Danish Derby, the Bet25 Larch Ærespræmie turned into a double for Stutteri Hjortebo, who bred both Taifuu and Bruce Almighty.
Taifuu already belonged to the top of her generation last year, with two big-race victories at Bro Park and a second place in the Danish Criterium – behind her own stablemate and now Derby winner, Cosmopolitan.
Taifuu then recorded a fantastic victory in the Mawj Stakes at Meydan – likewise with Oliver Wilson in the irons – before ending her Dubai campaign with a fifth place in the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas (L).
As Søren Jensen explained in his preview interview with GalopSport earlier in the week, Taifuu suffered a muscle strain in the paddock shortly after returning home from Dubai – an injury that kept her away from both the Mowerina and the Svenskt 1000 Guineas.
That made Saturday evening’s victory all the greater, and all the more of a release, for the whole circle behind the star filly.
Third place went to the Jessica Long-trained Dancingonarainbow (Juniper Tree) under Jacob Johansen, followed by the winner’s stablemate Vincenzo (Juniper Tree) and the final prize-taker Magic Cat (Juniper Tree).
For Søren Jensen the win was a perfect dress rehearsal – an hour and a half later it was Cosmopolitan who would make the day historic.
