Marcel Weiss | Horse Racing Free Tips

Arc Hero Torquator Tasso ‘Working Well’ Ahead of Return

Marcel Weiss, trainer of the reigning Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), has provided an upbeat bulletin on the 5-year-old ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return to action at Baden-Baden on Sunday.

Torquator Tasso shocked the racing world by becoming the longest-priced winner in Arc history when returning a 72-1 chance in a race where he had Dermot Weld's globetrotting mare Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Irish Derby hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in behind.

The poster boy of German racing will return in the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft at Baden-Baden, a track he tasted top-notch success at last term when snaring the 149th Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden before his memorable triumph at ParisLongchamp, and Weiss has described his stable star as having done very well over the winter.

Speaking to TDN Europe, he said, “Torquator Tasso has wintered very well, settled down even more. He has been working very well, the preparation has been going according to plan and we are very hopeful for Baden-Baden, even though he is not yet at a 100%.”

Weiss has a big red circle around the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and will chart a path back to ParisLongchamp in the autumn with the aim of Torquator Tasso defending his crown.

Mapping out the campaign, he said, “The further plan is to go into the G2 Hansa-Preis at Hamburg, then there will be either Ascot [for the King George] or Berlin before we are planning for the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and then onto the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.”

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‘Greatest Moment Of My Career’: Jockey Rene Piechulek Savoring Massive Arc Win With Torquator Tasso

Rene Piechulek is hoping to use his new-found fame to ride overseas over the winter after guiding Germany's Torquator Tasso to one of the biggest upset wins in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe history.

The 34-year-old Piechulek realised “the greatest moment of my career” when the Marcel Weiss-trained, Gestut Auenquelle-owned colt stunned ParisLongchamp by defeating Tarnawa and Hurricane Lane at pari-mutuel odds of 72-1.

“It's just been amazing,” said the jockey who is now back home in Munich. “I think I have woken up now!”

Riding in the Arc for the first time, Piechulek said the key factor in his triumph, in the 100th edition of Europe's richest race, was the ground.

Reliving the race, he said: *I had a great ride. The night before I was at dinner with the trainer when we talked about the race and what we would do.

“He was drawn 12 and I wanted to stay in the outside lane and not go between horses. When we reached the stretch I had a great feeling. He was travelling so well. In the last three furlongs he was going quicker and quicker and in the last furlong I knew I was going to win.”

The four-year-old son of the late Adlerflug beat Tarnawa by three-quarters of a length with Hurricane Lane another short head back and Derby winner Adayar fourth.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” Piechulek added. “When I crossed the line everyone was screaming.

“We beat the top horses but I think we were very lucky on the day because the ground was heavy. Torquator Tasso loves heavy ground. The day before it was raining all day and all night. That was perfect for me and my horse.

“Most of the top horses had put up good performances on good or good to soft or soft, but not heavy ground.”

Piechulek didn't start riding until he began his apprenticeship aged 16, his only previous experience of horses provided by the two Friesians owned by his parents.

And having with the Arc becoming only his third G1 win, he has taken on board the post-race advice he received from Frankie Dettori: “He said 'Buddy, enjoy the moment'. That's in my head now.”

Connections have decided to decline a Japan Cup invitation for Torquator Tasso yet announced he will stay in training to target a second Arc. Piechulek is considering his own winter options.

“I have tried to get a license for the winter season somewhere, maybe to Dubai,” he said. ”We will see what happens.”

At least international jurisdictions will now know who he is.

“There are so many jockeys that haven't been able to do what I have,” he said. “I was given the chance and I did it.”

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

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Torquator Tasso to Return For Another Arc Bid

The upset winner of the 100th Qatar GI Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Torquatar Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will not go to Japan, as his connections have decided he has done enough for the year, according to a report in the Jour de Galop. Instead, he will remain in training to make a run at the 101st edition of the ParisLongchamp showpiece in an attempt to become the ninth two-time winner of the race. Until now, no 4-year-old male winner of the Arc has succeeded in making it a double at five.

Julia Römich, a representative of Marcel Weiss's stable, told Equidia, “The Marcel Weiss stable thanks everyone for this unforgettable day Sunday at Longchamp. Torquator Tasso will not run again this year. His owners have resisted the temptation to go to the G1 Japan Cup so that he can rest up for next year. The objective is to defend his title in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. As such, we will come back to Longchamp next year.”

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Arc Hero Torquator Tasso Enters Reckoning For Cartier Awards

Torquator Tasso caused one of the biggest shocks in the history of the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, Oct. 3, a victory that saw the German colt enter calculations for both Cartier Horse Of The Year and Cartier Older Horse.

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

The 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be awarded in November. Cartier continues its ongoing support with the presentation of the Cartier Racing Awards.

Owned by Gestut Auenquelle, 4-year-old Torquator Tasso (96 points) emulated Star Appeal (1975) and Danedream (2011) by becoming the third German-trained winner of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the 100th running of the €5 million showpiece.

The Marcel Weiss-trained son of Adlerflug defeated Tarnawa (56), Hurricane Lane (152) and Adayar (100) in a thrilling finish to the highlight of two exceptional days of racing in Paris.

In terms of the Cartier Horse Of The Year standings, the Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica (160) remains in pole position. The Siyouni colt, who captured his fourth G1 prize of the season in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11, was retired to take up stallion duties at Coolmore last month.

Poetic Flare finished a creditable third at Leopardstown and the dual G1 winner is hot on the heels of St Mark's Basilica with 156 points. Godolphin's Hurricane Lane now has 152 points following his third in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Palace Pier (144) heads the Cartier Older Horse category with 144 points and is set to take in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II QIPCO Stakes at Ascot later this month as he looks to remain unbeaten this term. He leads Mishriff (108), with Torquator Tasso (96) third.

St Mark's Basilica (160) and Poetic Flare (156) continue to set the pace in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category ahead of Godolphin duo Hurricane Lane (152) and Adayar (100), who both emerged with plenty of credit following their third and fourth-placed efforts in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Mother Earth (144) leads the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly standings following her second behind the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Saffron Beach (68) in the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 2. Snowfall finished sixth in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the English and Irish Oaks heroine has 136 points.

A Case Of You (58) is the big mover in the Cartier Sprinter division after providing trainer Adrian McGuinness with a first G1 triumph in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp. G1 Darley July Cup hero Starman leads the way on 64 points.

The Alan King-trained Trueshan (68 points) is the new leader in the Cartier Stayer category, having powered to a second G1 victory in the Qatar Prix du Cadran on October 2. The five-year-old, who is owned by the Singula Partnership, defeated old rival and four-time Cartier Stayer Stradivarius (58 points) by four and a half lengths at Longchamp.

Arc weekend also saw a shake-up in the Cartier Two-Year-Old categories with Angel Bleu (48) emerging as a contender for the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt award. Trained by Ralph Beckett, Angel Bleu landed the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere under Frankie Dettori and is chasing Perfect Power (80), winner of the G1 Darley Prix Morny and G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes for Richard Fahey.

There is a three-way tie at the top of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly standings following Zellie's stylish success in the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac for Andre Fabre. The Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned filly has 40 points along with Joseph O'Brien's Agartha, who filled fourth behind Zellie at Longchamp, and Sandrine for Andrew Balding.

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