Lester Piggott`s latest comeback to the saddle proved a damp squib in Cologne today after his mount Sparkling Ruby was a last-minute withdrawal from the Europcar Ex Champion-Rennen, a race for veteran jockeys.
Sparkling Ruby got loose from the starting gate and completed a lap of a track before being withdrawn.
Piggott managed to get off his mount in time and was reported to be unhurt.
Greville Starkey, also due to take part in the 11-furlong contest, gave up his ride on Andy The Turbo, complaining of knee pain. Tim Gibson replaced him.
Once under way it was Borabay, ridden by former local champion-turned leading trainer Peter Schiergen, who got the better of Amasova, the mount of Frenchman Guy Guignard, by half a length.
Irishman Gabriel Curran finished third on Bleu Danseur five lengths away.
His compatriot Vincent Rossiter`s mount, Queisan, was found to be lame and also did not come under orders.
Earlier on the card Godolphin`s Pacino, the German 2000 Guineas winner, finished ninth in an eventful race for the Group Two Grosse Europcar-Meile.
The below form raider was beaten over 11{ lengths in a 10-runner field.
In a tight finish, Banyumanik edged out Bernardon and Up And Away by a nose and the same, only to lose the race in the stewards` room.
The officials concluded, after lengthy deliberation, that Banyumanik had hampered Bernardon and ruled that it had cost the latter the race so the placings were reversed.
