German bloodstock is rightly back in the spotlight on Sunday, with the highly-anticipated clash between Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) the key race of the day despite the presence of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. At this stage, a repeat win in the Arc for Gestut Auenquelle's star of the nation remains a distinct possibility even allowing for the presence of Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who may not even be there if the ground goes testing. Apart from a surprising flop on his reintroduction when sixth in the 11-furlong G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft here May 29, the 5-year-old's trajectory in 2022 has followed a perfect curve. A reassuringly dynamic display followed in Hamburg's G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis July 2 and his solid second in Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. put him firmly back in the picture three weeks later.
Before Torquator Tasso completed the Grosser Preis von Baden-Arc double 12 months ago, it had been done in 2011 by Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and 20 years ago by Marienbard (Ire) (Caerleon). Frankie Dettori was winning one of his three Grosser Preis von Badens at the time and he is deputising for the captive Rene Piechulek and his output will be interesting on a horse that takes some knowing as his seasonal debut attests. “The horse is in a beautiful situation, the trainer said the last piece of work he has done was very good and he was in good shape,” part-owner Peter-Michael Endres explained. “The ground is soft, but we expect a little more rain on Saturday so maybe it will be softer. He is not dependent on soft ground, he is not dependent on any ground, you saw at Ascot that he ran a very good race and it was firm. It's a race with only four other horses and we don't know how it will go, but we are in a good mood.”
Sammarco Primed
Gestut Park Wiedingen's G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Sammarco has youthful exuberance on his side and his latest performance in Munich's 10-furlong showcase at the end of July suggests he is going forward. An Arc supplementary hangs on his performance here, but Germany is tantalisingly close to having more than one joker to play in four weeks' time. “His form is very good and he had a canter Friday morning and he was great,” trainer Peter Schiergen said of the Classic hero. “The ground is good for him, he never has a problem with the ground and it will be quite slow on Sunday which will be fine.”
Can Coroebus Get Back On Track?
At ParisLongchamp, Godolphin's 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. hero Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks to put a reversal of fortunes behind him having finished fifth in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 14. Asked a big question by William Buick there, he ran the fastest split of the field but after trying to run down every rival understandably tired out of contention. This will be a test of his mettle as well as his ability, but if he can find cover early from stall five it may be that this turning mile will help him. “We were obviously disappointed with that performance, but are putting a line through it,” Charlie Appleby said. “Our plan was to drop in, but I don't think William wanted to be quite so detached. They covered [the last] five furlongs in under a minute. Two down, I'd have said we were an odds-on shot, but whether he used up too much getting into that position, I don't know. That's what I put it down to. He's pleased me since, came out of the race fine and the ground will be better, it was like a road the last day. For a horse of his stature, it wouldn't have suited.”
What Does The Revenant Have Left In The Locker?
It is not often that The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is spotted, but that has always been the case with the soft-ground specialist the master of scant sightings. Those who believed it was convenient to write off Al Asayl France's veteran following two defeats in the spring of his 2021 campaign were made to retract as he reappeared at his favourite time of year to be a narrow second to Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in this track's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and a fourth defending his G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. title in October. Easy wins in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Altipan Mar. 10 and G3 Prix Edmond Blanc Apr. 2 prior to his customary summer holiday suggest he retains at least most of his ability and that may be enough in a renewal lacking serious strength.
Breizh Sky Heads Support Cast
ParisLongchamp's card begins with the seven-furlong G3 Prix la Rochette, with Alain Jathiere's colours sported by the July 10 Listed Prix Roland de Chambure-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) and Aug. 14 G3 Prix Francois Boutin runner-up Bolshkinov (Fr) (Camacho {GB}). Le Haras De La Gousserie and Guy Pariente's G1 Champion S. hero Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) stages his return from a break in the 10-furlong G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, while Abdulla Al Mansoori's 'TDN Rising Star' West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) bids to continue the purple patch of the Simon and Ed Crisford stable in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange also over that trip.
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