by Myra Lewyn

Stall Blankenese’s Kamsin scored a convincing 2½-length victory under Johan Victoire on Sunday after he rallied from well of the pace in the $355,825 Grosser Mercedes-Benz Preis von Baden (Ger-G1) at Baden-Baden.

The three-year-old Samum colt, who made all the running for a three-length win in the Deutsches Derby (Ger-G1) (German Derby) in July, was not seriously challenged by runner-up and 2007 German Derby winner Adlerflug, the favorite. Kamsin completed 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) on a turf course rated as soft in 2:37.68.

George Strawbridge’s homebred English classic winner Lucarno attempted to lead the entire trip but ran out of gas on the spongy ground and finished fifth under Jimmy Fortune in the six-horse field.

"He ran too freely and they just wouldn't leave me alone,” Fortune told England’s Press Association after the race.

German Group 2 winner It’s Gino finished five lengths behind Adlerflug in third.

Kamsin finished a distant second to runaway first-place finisher Oriental Tiger in the Rheinland-Pokal der Sparkasse KohnBonn (Ger-G1) on August 17 in his start prior to the Preis von Baden. He was later awarded the win after Oriental Tiger was disqualified for a medication violation.

"Kamsin has improved from each of his runs,” trainer Peter Schiergen said. “With so much pace in the race, he was able to come from behind. We will have a lot of fun with him next year.

"Should he run once more this season, it will either be the Preis von Europa [(Ger-G1) on September 28 in Cologne] or a race abroad."

British bookmaker Stan James pegged Kamsin at 16-to-1 for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) on October 5 at Longchamp.

Bred in Germany by Gestut Karlshof, Kamsin has won five of six starts this season. He is out of Group 3 winner Kapitol, by Winged Love. 

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor