The 100th edition of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) gave rise to a huge surprise following the victory of the German colt Torquator Tasso. Ridden by 34-year-old Rene Piechulek, who was riding this race for the first time, Torquator Tasso, at 80 to 1, came from off the pace to pip the favourite Tarnawa, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, with the two Godolphin representatives, Hurricane Lane and Adayar, finishing third and fourth respectively. Sealiway was the first home of the French contingent in fifth.
The chestnut 4-year-old by Adlerflug (Ger) became only the third German-bred to win the Arc. He is owned by Gestut Auenquelle, owned by Karl-Dieter Ellerbracke and Peter Endras. The colt was a 24,000 pound purchase at the BBAG October sale as a yearling.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Endras. “It’s the best race in the world. We are breeders and we bought Torquator Tasso, as we do from time to time, on the advice of our trainer. He had already trained the high class Adlerflurg for us. We are very lucky.”
Torquator Tasso, named for a 16th century poet, had earned his ticket to ParisLongchamp following his win in the Grosser Preis von Baden on September 5.
Canadian racing fans will be familiar with the big German races this summer as Godophin’s horse WALTON STREET was just behind Torquator Tasso in a race just before the Preis von Baden. Walton Street came to Woodbine to romp on the Canadian International (G1) on Sept 18.
It marked the third victory at Group 1 level for the Rene Piechulek and Marcel Weiss team. Marcel Weiss, the horse’s trainer, had previously worked for Torquator Tasso’s owners, the Gestüt Auenquelle, the racing concern of Peter Michael Endres and Karl-Dieter Ellerbracke, for 14 years. He only became their trainer in November 2019, having previously acted as assistant to Jens Hirschberger.
This is the first Group 1 outside of Germany for this historic stable.
“I’m lost for words,” said Weiss. “I can’t believe I’ve won this. I started thinking about the Arc over the winter as he had already proven himself to be a class act at 3. He has done very well this year, having won at Gr2 and Gr1 level [prior to this]. But given the sheer quality of the field for the centenary edition of the Arc, we would have been delighted to be fourth or fifth. The ground helped him. He was able to come with a run on the outside as we had planned. I have been training at Mulheim for two years, but I have been working for the Gestüt Auenquelle for many years prior to that. The owners of Torquator Tasso turned down some big offers for the horse, and I am delighted to be able to train him. He is a star. We will discuss his future programme next week, which may take in Japan.”
The last German success in the French feature came in 2011 via Danedream, who similarly had also won the Grosser Preis von Baden before going on to greater glory at ParisLongchamp.
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