Berlin / Paris – Jockey René Piechulek posed proudly for the photographers, coach Marcel Weiß repeatedly shook his head in disbelief. Outsider Torquator Tasso caused a sensation and caused unexpected feelings of happiness in his rider and trainer with his victory as the third German horse in the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. “Crazy, it’s unbelievable,” said the visibly moved White after the four-year-old stallion’s coup on the Paris-Longchamp racecourse.
As a 725:10 outsider, the German horse of the year relegated fellow favorite Tarnawa with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle to second place with a strong final attack. Third after 2,400 meters in the most important race in Europe, endowed with five million euros, was Hurricane Lane under James Doyle.
A worthwhile investment
On the noble racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne, the heavy soil also met the winner. “That plays into our shoes,” said Weiss, who trained in Mülkeim / Ruhr, confidently before the start after the rain in the French capital. “I was hoping for a smooth run,” added Piechulek after the race.
Before Torquator Tasso, only the German horses Star Appeal (1975) and Danedream (2011) had won the Arc, which had been held since 1920. Torquator Tasso belongs to the East Westphalian stud Auenquelle. Three years ago it cost only 24,000 euros at an auction in Iffezheim – an extremely worthwhile investment. On Sunday, Torquator Tasso earned 2.857 million euros. Its value for breeding also increased enormously through the success.
Torquator Tasso had already proven his good form at his dress rehearsal for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. At the beginning of September he won the Baden Grand Prix in front of the derby winner Sisfahan in Iffezheim. Before that, he was second in the Berlin Grand Prix behind the English mare Alpinista.
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