ABACUS opened his account in style at Baden-Baden on Sunday, winning the das neue welle Auftaktrennen over 2,400m and becoming another successful graduate for STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK.
The three-year-old son of TEOFILO, carried the colours of Liberty Racing 2024 Platin and is trained by Sarah Steinberg. Ridden by Rene Piechulek, ABACUS showed a determined attitude in the closing stages, to score by three quarters of a length.
It was a well-deserved first success for ABACUS at one of Germany’s most prestigious racecourses and is another pleasing result for the team and a rewarding moment for all connections.
The Baden-Baden meeting also produced a major highlight through WIKINGER, who became another Stakes winner for STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK with victory in the Listed Casino Baden-Baden Silberne Peitsche over 1,200m.
The son of TEN SOVEREIGNS, trained by Henk Grewe for Cometica AG and ridden by Thore Hammer-Hansen, produced a powerful late run to win the sprint feature, defeating War Bride and Bacarda in a thrilling finish.
Bred by Gestüt Höny-Hof, Wikinger has long shown an affinity for Baden-Baden, where he had already won the valuable Ferdinand Leisten Memorial as a 2yo. Now, with a Listed victory to his name, he has added valuable Black Type success .
Both were prepped by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK at their farm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN and consigned and sold at the BBAG Yearling Sale.
Congratulations to the owners, trainers, jockeys and all connections on a very successful day at Baden-Baden.
A remarkable moment for Stauffenberg Bloodstock as Maltese Cross finishes second in the 2026 Betfred Derby
MALTESE CROSS produced a phantastic performance in the 2026 Betfred Derby at Epsom, finishing a magnificent second behind Christmas Day in one of the world’s most prestigious Flat races. Although victory ultimately went to the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner, MALTESE CROSS’s runner-up finish represents an outstanding achievement and a truly special moment for the whole team at STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK.
The 2026 Betfred Derby was won by Christmas Day, ridden by Ronan Whelan and trained by Aidan O’Brien, with MALTESE CROSS taking second place and James J Braddock finishing third in a race run in demanding conditions at Epsom Downs. MALTESE CROSS is owned by Hollywood producer George Waud, trained by William Haggas in Newmarket and was ridden by Tom Marquand.
For STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK, the result was far more than just a placing. It was the culmination of a remarkable journey with a colt who had already shown Classic potential when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial and earning his place in the Derby field. MALTESE CROSS, a son of SEA THE STARSs out of NABATEA by CAMELOT, had been bought by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK as a foal at Arqana for €200,000, raised at their farm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN and later consigned and sold as a yearling at Tattersalls Book 1 for 350,000 guineas to Hurworth Bloodstock on behalf of his connections — a story that underlines the strength of the STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK programme and its ability to identify and develop top-class talent.
Belle Of The Ball provided Stauffenberg Bloodstock with the perfect start to the 2026 two-year-old season when winning at Cork
Pinhooked by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK, the daughter of Mohaather became our first two-year-old runner of 2026 — and our first two-year-old winner of the year — with an impressive success in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over five furlongs.
Trained by Mrs John Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, BELLE OF THE BALL showed plenty of natural speed and professionalism. Sent off 3/1 joint-favourite, she led from the stalls, travelled strongly, and kept on powerfully in the closing stages to score by four lengths.
BELLE OF THE BALL is a filly by Mohaather out of Edelmira, by Peintre Celebre. She had shaped with promise on debut at the Curragh earlier this month and took a major step forward at Cork, confirming the early speed and quality she had shown at home.
Bred by Piercetown Stud & Tactful Finance, BELLE OF THE BALL was purchased by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK as a foal at the 2024 Goffs November Foal Sale , raised and prepped at their farm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN before being offered at Goffs Orby Book 1 the following year through longtime ally Abbeville Stud. Her Cork victory is an exciting early result for our 2026 juvenile crop and a rewarding moment for the team behind her.
Congratulations to her owners OMEGA Racing, Belle Morris & Russell B Jones JR, trainer Jessie Harrington, jockey Shane Foley, and all connected with BELLE OF THE BALL.
LONDON (Lord of England – La Reine Noir) foaled the last foal of the Breeding Season 2026 at our farm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN – a filly by MODERN GAMES. LONDON is bred and owned by GRAF UND GRÄFIN STAUFFENBERG and a sister to Gr.1 placed LADY MARY. She was sold at the BBAG Yearling Sales to Jeremy Brummit on behalf of Quantum Leap Racing and was placed in the UK. After her racing career she was sourced by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK and brought back home where she delivered now her first foal.
MALTESE CROSS by SEA THE STARS kept the Derby Dream very much alive for all his connections with a brave and determined victory in theWilliam Hill Lingfield Derby Trial, L. on Saturday.
Trained by William Haggas and partnered by Tom Marquand, he showed both class and courage in a thrilling finish, edging out Bay Of Brilliance by a neck after the pair had drawn clear of the field. The success marked an important step forward for the progressive colt and confirmed his place among the exciting contenders heading towards Epsom.
Already the winner of a competitive Newbury race earlier this season and a Newmarket Maiden at 2 years, he is now the winner of 3 races from 4 starts, having finished second at his debut at Ascot. MALTESE CROSS handled the rise into Listed company in admirable style. When asked for his effort in the closing stages, he responded generously and showed the attitude needed of a colt with Classic ambitions.
For STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK, this victory is a particularly proud moment. Maltese Cross was sourced by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK at the Arqana December Sales as a foal, raised at their studfarm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN, where he was carefully prepared before being sold at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales to Hurworth Bloodstock on behalf of his current connections and, now, to the Derby trail.
His Lingfield success is another reminder of the importance of early education, patient development and expert preparation. From his time at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN to a hard-fought Derby Trial victory, Maltese Cross continues to reward the confidence placed in him.
Congratulations to owner George Waud, trainer William Haggas, jockey Tom Marquand and all connections on a tremendous success. The Derby Dream is alive.
The first foal bred by the STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK BREEDING SYNDICATE is a 2024 filly by NIGHT OF THUNDER out of SOUS LES ETOILES was one of the Toplots at the Arqana Breeze Up Sales.
She was always been very much liked by the team of STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK and the farm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN where she was raised. However all involved were very disappointed that the filly did not match the expectations when offered Book I of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales and was bought back for GNS300.000 then. Reoffered at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sales, she was sold for GNS180.000.
Prepped by Johnny Hassett in Ireland for the Arqana Breeze Up Sales, she did one of the fastet breezes and was bought by Ed Sackville on behalf of TBT Racing for €600.000 and will be trained by Ed Walker at Lambourn.
The members of the STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK BREEDING SYNDICATE were delighted with the prize of the first foal out of SOUS LES ETOILES, who has a smahing yearling filly by ZARAK, a classy filly foal by MEHMAS only last Sunday and will be covered by MODERN GAMES this year
SOUS LES ETOILES by SEA THE STARS foaled her third foal and third filly this time by MEHMAS at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN.
The mare is owned by one of the STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK BREEDING SYNDICATES. She has a 2yo filly by NIGHT OF THUNDER and a yearling filly by ZARAK.
FLORA OF BERMUDA by DARK ANGEL made a winning return to action at Newmarket today, showing her trademark determination to land the Oddschecker Ellen Chaloner Stakes, L. in dramatic fashion.
Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by James Doyle, she lined up over six furlongs on the Rowley Mile. Racing for Wathnan Racing, FLORA OF BERMUDA was sent off at 7/2 against a strong field of nine runners.
Rosy Affair looked to have stolen the race from the front, but FLORA OF BERMUDA refused to be beaten. Doyle kept his mount close to the pace before asking for one final effort inside the last furlong, and she responded superbly, getting up in the final stride to win by a head.
The victory was especially satisfying after FLORA OF BERMUDA spent last season competing at the highest level, including strong Gr.1 efforts when third in both the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Back in Listed company, she showed all her class and fighting spirit to return to the winner’s enclosure.
FLORA OF BERMUDA was purchased by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK at the Goffs November Foal Sales, raised at their farm at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN and prepped for the Arqana August Yearling Sale, where she was sold to Longways Stables.
SANTAGADA by SOLDIER HOLLOW made the perfect start to the new season at Hannover, beginning 2026 just as she ended 2025 — in the winner’s enclosure.
The Gestüt Park Wiedingen mare returned in style in the Großer Preis der Burckhardt Gruppe – Hannoverscher Stutenpreis, L. over 2,000 metres. Ridden by Leon Wolff and trained by Peter Schiergen, SANTAGADA won comfortably at Hannover, confirming once again the class that made her one of last season’s standout performers. SANTAGADA is bred by Gestüt Hönyhof and was prepped by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK for the BBAG Yearling Sale where she had to be withdrawn due to technical problems with her registration.
Another bred by Gestüt Hönyhof and prepped by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK, but this time consigned and sold at the BBAG Yearling Sale is WIKINGER by TEN SOVEREIGNS who finished third in the Großer Sprint Preis von Rossmann, L. over 1,300 metres. Trained by Henk Grewe for Cometica AG and also partnered by Leon Wolff, WIKINGER ran on to secure a podium finish behind Dino and Megarry.
Just before midnight we welcomed a filly foal by HAVANA GREY out of AMPHITRITE by SEA THE STARS at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN. The filly is bred by the STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK BREEDING SYNDICATE and is the second foal out of AMPHITRITE who has a yearling filly by MODERN GAMES.
AMPHITRITE is a daughter of BELLE D’OR, a Stakes winning sister to the 2.000 Guines winner FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND and the 2yo Gr.1 winner PEDRO THE GREAT.