Warring States wins Derby trial

Warring States won the Gr. 3 Bavarian Classic over a mile and a quarter at Munich on Bank Holiday Monday, showing a great attitude to get the better of a sustained battle with Enjoy Vijay under Harry Bentley.

After winning on his debut at Hoppegarten last October - when he became the first European winner bought in Japan by Qatar Racing Warring States was fast-tracked to the Gr. 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud later that month. Things didn't go his way there, and he showed exactly why he's well regarded by his trainer Andreas Wohler when making a winning return in the Bavarian Classic, coming with a power-packed run from midfield.

Warring States is entered in the Derby at Epsom, though another option for him is the Gr. 1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg on July 2, a race his trainer has won four times including last year with Isfahan, who had taken the Bavarian Classic en route. Warring States could run next in the Gr. 2 Union-Rennen at Cologne on June 11.

By Victoire Pisa and a half-brother to multiple stakes winner in Japan, Hakusan Moon, Warring States should continue to improve, especially when he's stepped up to a mile and a half.

Qatar Racing's other runner on Bank Holiday Monday was True Valour, who improved again to finish a close third in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes over seven furlongs at Naas.