Stall Ullmann's homebred Guignol (GER) went wire-to-wire defeating the favorite and defending champion Iquitos (GER) by 2 ½ lengths in Sunday's 1 ½ mile $163,000 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) at Baden-Baden Racecourse, and earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held for the first time at the Del Mar racetrack near San Diego, California, on November 3-4.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for Guignol to start in the 1 ½- mile $4million Longines Turf. Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Guignol (19-5), a 5-year-old son of Cape Cross (IRE) out of the Monsun (GER) mare Guadalupe (GER), trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho and ridden by Filip Minarik, earned his second career Group 1, having captured the Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich last November.

Facing five rivals today, Guignol broke well and set the pace through the first mile, pressed on his outside by Godolphin's 4-year-old Prize Money (GB) and German Derby (G1) winner Windstoss (GER) to his inside. On the turn for home, Prize Money swung wide and out of contention, and Windstoss did not gain on the leader. Stall Mulligan's Iquitos, who had been in last saving ground most of the way, started a concerted drive along the rail to close the gap into second, but was no match for the winner.

Stall Reckendorf's Colomano (GB) finished third, followed in order by Windstoss, Best Solution (IRE) and Prize Money. Spend the Cash was scratched.  Guignol completed the 1 ½ miles in 2:32.55 over a course listed as good.

Minarik said afterward: “This was easier than expected – he only had to counter one attack. This is my fourth win in the Grand Prix here and the atmosphere gave me goose bumps.”

Guignol, now 5 of 13 lifetime, came into today's race off a fourth-place finish in Grosser-Hansa Preis (G2) at Hamburg on July 1.  In his start before that, Guignol defeated Iquitos by a neck in the Grosser Preis der Badichen-Wirtscraft (G2) on May 28 at Baden-Baden.

The Grosser Preis von Baden was the ninth Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifier for the Longines Turf (G1) this year.

The first eight to qualify were: the 4-year-old Sadler's Joy, winner of the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 26; the 4-year-old Ulysses (IRE), who won the  Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 23; the 5-year-old Hunt (IRE), who won the Del Mar Handicap (G2) on August 19; the 4-year-old Beach Patrol, winner of the Arlington Million (G1) on August 12; the 3-year-old filly Enable (GB), winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot on July 29; Satono Crown (JPN), who captured the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan on June 25; the 8-year-old Ordak Dan (ARG), who won the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) at San Isidro in Buenos Aires on May 25 and 3-year-old Voador Magee (BRZ), who earned a Turf bid by capturing the Grande Premio Brasil (G1) at Hipodromo Gavea in Rio de Janeiro on June 11.

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