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19.12.2020 
 
Holiday greetings from the heathland: Vice champion and much gratitude 
A year full of unusual challenges is coming to an end and precisely because 2019 put many things to the test, we would like to hold on to the tried and true and, as every year, review the past twelve months and close the year on a positive note.

Following three titles in 2016, 2018 and 2019, SOLDIER HOLLOW was runner-up this year but had quite an outstanding year given the shortened season and reduced prize money with the largest number of wins (69) and earnings of €645,439. In return, the In The Wings son secured the championship as leading 2YO sire for the second time after 2016, which makes us extremely proud. Among the youngsters, his most successful product was the Auenquelle filly REINE D'AMOUR, who scored one of the five Group wins for her sire in the G3 Zukunftsrennen.

One of the group wins was achieved by our home-bred WAI KEY STAR in the G3 Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe at Iffezheim. The seven-year-old, who turned into a crowd favorite under the guidance of Munich-based trainer Sarah Steinberg, ended his active career shortly afterwards and follows the SOLDIER HOLLOW sons PASTORIUS, IVANHOWE, WELTSTAR and DSCHINGIS SECRET to France. Thus, our Derby runner-up DESTINO remains the only progeny of his sire in Germany so far and this is a very satisfying perspective for the future given that he had a very good first season.

The fact that SOLDIER HOLLOW blood is in demand in France was probably due to the strong performances of THORIN and Wiedingen products FLAMINGO GIRL and WANGARI, who showed very strong performances in the neighboring country at Black Type level. Last but not least, this was clearly seen by top sales that made headlines at auctions in Deauville. VIRGINIA JOY was the top seller at Arqana in October. The G3 Mehl Mülhens Trophy winner left the ring for just under a million euros! With €300,000, JOPLIN and AXANA achieved further top prices at the December auction and made good publicity for their sire.

Back home, WESTON, bred by Gestüt Röttgen, advanced at the BBAG Autumn Sale to be the top seller of his sire, who turned 20 this year and was celebrated with a very nice short documentary. The latter was produced by Gestüt Park Wiedingen's owner Helmut von Finck in cooperation with Sport Welt TV and can be viewed on our homepage here.

In the aforementioned short film, Helmut von Finck already expressed his gratitude, which we would like to take up and reaffirm at this point. In times like these, priorities shift and we rare reminded of the truly important values in life.
Hence, we thank all the two-legged ones who keep the sport of horse racing and thoroughbred breeding alive with a lot of passion in the heart and commitment, and we thank all the four-legged ones for their willingness to perform and all the joy they give us.
??Dear friends, breeders, owners, trainers, active people in front and behind the scenes, we wish you all a peaceful holiday season and a 2021 full of joy, health and small and great miracles!
 
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