When Mendocino bested last year's shock Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso by a head in the 2022 edition of Germany's premier race, the Group 1 Grosser-Preis von Basden, it ignited dreams for another German upset in the Arc. Jockey Rene Piechulek, the man who engineered last year's victory aboard Torquator Tasso, will take the mount aboard Mendocino for this year's edition, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
Mendocino is a 4-year-old son of Aderflung trained by Piechulek's girlfriend, Sarah Steinberg, on behalf of 90-year-old owner Hans-Gerd Wernicke. The colt has won three races from 10 starts in his career, including a close second to fellow Arc rival Alpinista last year. Mendocino will also face Torquator Tasso once again in this year's Arc, though his rival will be handled by Frankie Dettori.
Other Arc rivals are expected to include Luxembourg, Vadeni, Verry Elleegant, Adayar, Onesto, and Sharyar, among others. Mendocino has been offered at odds of 50-1 in early wagering.
“It's the same as last year with Torquator Tasso,” Piechulek told TRC. “Everyone was laughing about us but the owner said 'if you don't try, you'll never win.'
“I don't know how it will be if we do get a better pace at Longchamp but I beat [Torquator Tasso] one time, I can beat him another time. Everything is possible.”
Read more at the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
The post ‘Everything Is Possible’: Germany Poised For Another Arc Upset With Mendocino appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
