World Pool returns to Germany for the second weekend in a row and Dusseldorf is this Sunday’s (3 August) port of call with the 167th running of the G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, 2200m) being the centrepiece of the three-race action.

Dusseldorf is known as a track for specialists with the draw also particularly important as there is a short run to the first bend.

Garden Of Eden doesn’t have either of those advantages – this is her first start outside of England or Ireland and she has drawn gate twelve. But being trained and ridden by master tacticians, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, she deserves plenty of respect; especially as she appears to be on a sharp upward curve having quickened away from her ten rivals in Royal Ascot’s G2 Ribblesdale Stakes (2392m).

Spirited Style comes from gate one and that will also require some tactical nous, but the Charlie Appleby-trained filly has William Buick’s extensive worldwide experience on her side. A lightly-raced daughter of Sea The Stars, she is also on an upward trajectory, most recently scoring a smooth victory in the Listed Aphrodite Fillies’ Stakes (2400m) at Newmarket in June.

Only one overseas contender has won the German Oaks in the past ten years and, the domestic team again look strong in the 15 declared field, with the Koln-based Henk Grewe commentating: “We will try and upset the foreign raiders!”

He runs Innora (Lukas Delozier), Meeresbrise (Nina Baltromei) and Stugardia (Jack Mitchell) and is particularly positive about the first two.

“Innora has a strong chance. Her run in Hamburg (second by a head in last month’s G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis, 2200m) was really good and she has improved since,” Grewe said.

Meeresbrise will be an outsider, but Grewe remains upbeat: “She ran on the wrong ground last time (when fifth in a 2100m Dusseldorf trial for this) and will like the soft surface. I hope and believe that she can be placed.”

Andreas Wohler, another top German trainer who, like Grewe has won this Classic before, runs Lady Charlotte (Adrie de Vries) and Raposa (Eduardo Pedroza).

Lady Charlotte lost her unbeaten record when taking on the colts in last month’s G1 Deutsches Derby (German Derby, 2400m) but Wohler says: “That was a non-event for her. We have a better draw (six) this time and she’s in fine form. We hope for the best.”

Of Raposa, Wohler says: “She has won here (a 2100m Listed trial) and she has profited from a break since. There is nothing negative to say.”

Peter Schiergen is yet another top German trainer with winning German Oaks credentials. His legendary stable jockey Andrasch Starke has picked Santagada who rises in trip from her victory in last month’s G3 Hamburger Stuten Meile (1600m). There will be interest also in stable companion Nicoreni. She may be small in stature but has continued to show that she has a big heart.