Ittlingen's success story began in 1965 when Fredy Ostermann celebrated the first winner in the stud's distinct white-red colours. The horse's name was Ortszeit, and the filly would soon prove to be responsible for the first breeding success when she became the dam of the two time classic winner Oraza. Only two years later, Pentathlon marked Ittlingen's breakthrough triumph on the international stage winning the Gr.1 Prix l'Abbaye in Longchamp. In 1972, Tarim became the first German Derby winner in Ittlingen silks. Encouraged by this success and his growing passion for horse racing, Fredy Ostermann acquired several mares in the U.K., which he boarded at Quenhorn stud for breeding.
Following the unexpected passing of his father in 1975, Manfred Ostermann—first in cooperation with his mother and later with his sister, Janet Ostermann—took over the stud and the racing stable. In the early nineties, the Ostermanns started their own breeding operation when they leased the former branch of Quenhorn stud in Werne from the Moormann family.
Since then, the 100 acres of pasture land and 100 box stalls of the generous estate have been providing the foundation for the excellent rearing of such highly successful racehorses as Gr.1 winners Anatas, Donaldson, Hollywood Dream, Just A Flutter, Rivellino, the new stallion Scalo as well as numerous classic and international winners. To this day, however, the most accomplished horse to emerge from Ittlingen's breeding operation remains the Acatenango-son Lando. A seven-time Gr.1 winner, Lando won the German Derby, scored twice in the Großer Preis von Baden and, in his final start, stormed home in the Japan Cup in record time (2:24,6) to become the first German horse to win the prestigious Gr.1 race. Lando entered stud in 1997 and—producing 15 crops—sired such highly successful racehorses as Gr.1 winners Donaldson, Epalo, Gonbarda as well as the stallions Intendant and Scalo.
The Ostermann family has always attached great importance to the quality of the mares and the care of the dam lines for their breeding operation. One of the most prolific mares that bears mentioning is Laurea, one of the few German dams to produce two German Derby winners: Lando and Laroche, who won the German Derby the year following his brother's triumph. Gifting the stud with no less than nine broodmares, Laurea's heritage is deeply anchored in Ittlingen's bloodlines. Another mare to leave a significant mark is Arabeske. Bred by Marianne Ostermann, her daughters Arastou and Aragosta recorded victories on group level and, among others, produced the outstanding Abitara (Prix de Pomone, Gr.2), the winner of the Preis der Großen Union, Axxos, and the 2011 winner of the St. Leger Italiano, Altano.
Time and again, Ittlingen invests in new bloodlines, knowing that refreshment yields great benefits to established lines. As such, Saquace, a Listed-placed daughter of Arc winner Sagace, who was acquired in foal to Exit to Nowhere, has proven to be the latest successful addition to established Ittlingen bloodlines. The resulting filly, Sky Dancing, became a Listed-winner and produced Gr.1 winner and stallion Scalo as well as Gr.3 winner Sexy Lady. With the new acquisitions of Ivory Coast, a Peintre Celebre-mare and dam of group winner Ivory Land as well as Romance Story, a New Approach-mare bred by Darley, two international top dam lines have once again entered Gestuet Hof Ittlingen.
The Ostermann family was particularly happy to have been named German Champion Owner in 2011. The latter, the Medicean-son Neatico, was to continue to cause a sensation in the following years: As a five-time group winner, including the Große Dallmayr Preis, a Gr.1 Bavarian breeding race, Neatico has since moved into a well-deserved stallion box at our stud farm. |
