Marcel Weiss: 'It was really important Frankie came to ride Torquator Tasso'

Trainer Marcel Weiss said on Tuesday that winning the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Torquator Tasso 12 months ago has made him greedy to repeat the success on Sunday.

And he stressed that Frankie Dettori making a trip to his Mulheim base in Germany earlier in the day to ride the five-year-old in his final gallop was a vital step in that quest.

After a largely dry season the rain that continued to fall in Paris on Tuesday could not have arrived at a better time for Torquator Tasso, who is a mere tenth of the price he was in 2021 when he scored at 80-1.

"Everything went really well," said Weiss of the gallop. "There was real harmony between horse and rider and it was important for us that Frankie came over this morning, especially to ride him around a right-handed track. He feels like a different horse that way round."

Marcel Weiss (left) and Frankie Dettori ahead of Torquator Tasso's run in the Grosser Preis von BadenCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Dettori and Torquator Tasso suffered a surprise defeat to Mendocino in last month's Grosser Preis von Baden, although Weiss believes the run had a positive effect on the son of Adlerflug despite the result.

"The race was decided after 200 metres as there was no pace and no chance of getting any cover for him," said Weiss. "The race went against us and Frankie did his best to turn the tide by launching him off the home bend.

"He has taken the race very well mentally even though it was tough. We head to Paris with a lot of optimism.

"The trouble with the Arc is that once you've won it, you just want to do it again. It's like a drug."

Weiss identified Luxembourg and Vadeni as respected opponents, and warned the assembled media not to forget Mendocino, the horse who edged out Torquator Tasso at Baden-Baden.

Mendocino will be ridden by Rene Piechulek on Sunday, whose retainer with owner Hans-Gerd Wernicke means he cannot bid for repeat Arc glory on Torquator Tasso.

Mendocino's trainer Sarah Steinburg – who is also Piechulek's partner – admitted on Tuesday that landing her first Group 1 success in the Grosser Preis von Baden left her shocked.

Rene Piechulek and Sarah Steinberg celebrate after Mendocino's Group 1 breakthrough in the Grosser Preis von BadenCredit: Foto: Sabine Brose/galoppfoto.de

"It was a surprise because we went there thinking a place in the first three would be good and that it was unlikely we could beat Torquator Tasso," said Steinberg. "But he had the perfect trip and of course the best jockey on board!

"The horse can be a bit stressed so we ran him with earplugs and he will have them again in Paris. We're confident of a good run."

Nobody is in a better place to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Germany's two Arc contenders than Piechulek, who said: "They’re not the same kind of horse. I rode Torquator Tasso last year with the aim of staying in space because he needs time to wind up. Mendocino's turn of foot means he can take the gaps when they come.

"It's difficult to compare the two. The only thing that really links them is their liking for soft ground. Torquator Tasso takes longer to accelerate, whereas Mendocino has a turn of foot."

Vadeni was reported to be "full of himself" after coming through his final workout in Deauville under the supervision of trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who is also set to saddle Al Hakeem on Sunday.

On Tuesday morning the Aga Khan's racing and stud manager Georges Rimaud gave a positive update on the Prix du Jockey Club and Coral-Eclipse winner.

"Vadeni worked well yesterday and has strengthened up, he is ready to run," said Rimaud. "He has come forward from his race in Ireland [third in the Irish Champion Stakes] and Christophe Soumillon was delighted with what was not a really strong piece of work. The horse is really full of himself."

Sunday: Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp

Coral: 10-3 Luxembourg, 9-2 Alpinista, 6 Vadeni, 7 Titleholder, 8 Torquator Tasso, 12 Onesto, Westover, 16 bar

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