by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

At the German Derby Sale held Saturday evening (Aug. 5) in Berlin the Swedish-born colt Matchpoint Pellini sold for $425,000 which is the highest price ever at a European sale.

The buyer was the Swedish trainer, Ola Samuelsson on behalf of Lennart Aagren – who just an hour later was present in the winner’s circle at The Meadowlands to be handed the Hambletonian Trophy as the owner of Perfect Spirit.

Matchpoint Pellini is sired by French trotting star Bold Eagle and out of Prada Pellini by Yankee Glide.

Bold Eagle raced earlier Saturday in Belgium, where he had an easy task winning the Grand Prix de Wallonie with regular driver Franck Nivard in the bike.

The German Filly Derby was raced at the Mariendorf track in Berlin and was won by Motion Pure, who is sired by Muscle Hill and was driven by Heinz Wewering, 67.

Wewering is Europe’s winningest driver with around 16,800 victories.