Danedream (pictured after her Arc win) was having her first star of 2012

PICTURE: Getty Images

Report: Germany, Sunday

Baden-Baden: Grosser Preis der Badischen Unternehmer (Group 2)4yo+, 1m3f

ARC heroine Danedream (Peter Schiergen/Andrasch Starke), starting at 2-5, began her 2012 campaign with a cosy victory in the Group2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Unternehmer and could have her next outing in the King George.

Starke kept her in mid-division as Freddie Tylicki set a strong pace on Mighty Mouse. He improved his position three furlongs out and the filly quickened well to master the front-runner a furlong and a half from home.

She soon led by more than two lengths, but Ovambo Queen andSilvaner both finished strongly from the rear to reduce her advantage, although neither seriously looked like winning and Danedream kept on well to score by three parts of a length and a neck.

“She only does what is necessary,” said Starke afterwards, “and was just looking around her in the final furlong. She will come on a lot for the race.”

“I am more relieved than anything else,” said the trainer. “I knew she was in good shape, but she was only at 80 per cent today for her first race in half a year. We have not made any firm plans so far, but she will almost certainly go abroad for her next race – either the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud or the King George. The main target is of course the Arc again.”

The main disappointments were the two foreign runners, Norwegian-trained Sir Lando in eighth and Czech-trained Roches Cross, who finished last.

“We tried new tactics today but they did not work out,” said rider Fredrik Johansson of Sir Lando, while trainer Josef Vana said his Czech Derby winner was “not good enough in this company”.