German trainer Peter Schiergen has grown accustomed to success and despite the challenges that await him in Sunday's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase, his confidence is growing in his quality stayer Quijano.
This globe-trotting son of former champion German racehorse Acatenango has racked up the imposing record of 12 wins from 16 starts and despite the towering presence of Europe's Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas, Schiergen (pictured) says Quijano is ready for the battle.
'I have to say I'm very pleased with my horse,' said Schiergen, who has been training for 10 years but has already landed Germany's most prestigious race, the Grosser Preis von Baden, three times. 'He did a very nice piece of work the other morning [1,200m in 1:14.9, last 400m in 22.1 seconds] and came through it really well. He's a very fit horse and I'm sure he's going to run his proper race.'
Schiergen is a household name in German racing, dominating during his jockey days in much the same way Douglas Whyte has in Hong Kong.
He rode for the leading trainer, 31-time German champion Heinz Jentzsch, and when the legend retired, Schiergen changed careers and began training.
But not before he won the jockeys' championship five times and tore the book of German riding records to pieces. In 1995, he won an incredible 271 races, breaking the European record set by Gordon Richards in 1947. Given the relatively small number of races in Germany, this mark may never be surpassed, and it's worth noting the second-best season of 167 was also a Schiergen tally (1994). Schiergen retired from the saddle with 1,471 career victories at the end of 1997 to set up as a trainer. He was immediately successful in his new role, preparing Tiger Hill to land the 1998 Grosser Preis von Baden and finish third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Tiger Hill won the Grosser Preis again in 1999.
Schiergen said yesterday he was now training 110 horses, but loved the thrill of international competition. 'Coming to these racing carnivals, meeting the best horses, best jockeys and trainers really excites us,' he said.