German Derby winner given green light for huge clash with Torquator Tasso

Arc-winning trainer Peter Schiergen looks set to ensure Frankie Dettori and Torquator Tasso do not have an easy time of things in next Sunday's €200,000 Grosser Preis von Baden.

Schiergen has confirmed that Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco will take on Torquator Tasso in one of the most eagerly awaited match-ups in recent German racing history, in a race which could have a major bearing on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe four weeks later.

Torquator Tasso won the Grosser Preis 12 months ago en route to his shock success in the Arc, and is a general 7-1 chance to repeat his victory at Longchamp after putting up an excellent display in finishing second to Pyledriver in the King George at Ascot.

Sammarco got the better of a desperate three-way photo to land the Derby in Hamburg at the start of July, and showed that was no fluke when defeating older opposition for the first time in the 1m2f Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich four weeks later.

While the son of Camelot would need to be supplemented for the Arc at a cost of €120,000, Schiergen said he and owner Helmut von Finck would give that serious consideration if Sammarco puts up a good performance at Baden-Baden.

Schiergen, who landed the Grosser Preis/Arc double with Danedream in 2011, said: "I'll talk with the owner after the race and if Sammarco runs well we'll see about the Arc. He's been working well and I was very pleased with his most recent gallop."

Regular jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev will be back on Sammarco, having missed his most recent success at Munich.

Torquator Tasso's usual rider Rene Piechulek deputised on Sammarco in Murzabayev's absence, but will partner neither of the two favourites in the Grosser Preis, owing to his retainer with the owner of Mendocino,a situation which has led trainer Marcel Weiss to call up Frankie Dettori for the ride on Germany's highest-rated horse.

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