German gallop derby
Record odds: extreme underdog unexpectedly wins
Updated July 5, 2026Reading time: 2 min.
The 157th German gallop derby ended in a sensation. (File image) (Source: Markus Brandt/dpa/dpa-bilder)
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Dardanos entered the race as a complete underdog – and won the German Gallop Derby with the highest winning percentage in Derby history. There is a story behind this that hardly anyone could imagine.
Auctioned for €10,000 as a yearling, he entered the race as a clear underdog – and is now a Derby winner: the stallion Dardanos won the 157th German gallop derby at Hamburg Horn. The winning percentage of 848:10 is the highest in the history of the race.
Jockey Vladimir Panov won the €650,000 2400m race on Dardanos. The second was Chiefland under the leadership of Siren Fallon, the third was Salitos with Bauyrzhan Muzabaev in the saddle. Kairos finished fourth under Leon Wolf. All three horses posted belong to the Liberty Racing ownership group. She had it with Fantastic Moon and Palladium Already won the derby twice. The beloved Englishman took only sixth place. The only foreign player Bay of Brilliance took second to last place among 18 participants.
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Dardanos belongs to the Bergholz stable of Friedrich von Lente and Hans-Wilhelm Jenckel. The prize fund is 390,000 euros. At the auction in Iffezheim, a yearling stallion cost only 10,000 euros. His brother Delgardo also started in the Derby last year but had no chance.
Trainer Andreas Wöhler celebrated his sixth derby victory. Wöhler said: “It’s incredible, I’m speechless. “He’s improved, but the fact he won the Derby is incredible.” Panov was also hard to believe after the race. The jockey said: “The greatest day of my life as a jockey. Unforgettable. I’m just happy.” His colleagues then greeted him with a champagne shower. Spectators in Hamburg celebrated the underdog winner with thunderous applause, although almost no one bet on him.