Next stop Baden-Baden! Tried-and-tested route to Arc for Torquator Tasso

Torquator Tasso was defeated by “the best horse on the day” when finishing second to Pyledriver in Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with connections eyeing one more run for the five-year-old before October’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Winner of last year’s Arc at odds of 72-1, Torquator Tasso was sent off among the outsiders for the Group 1 King George at 16-1 with the betting dominated by Irish Derby winner Westover, Oaks second Emily Upjohn and Mishriff.

However, Pyledriver ran out a clear-cut winner when beating Torquator Tasso by two and three-quarter lengths, with Mishriff a further eight lengths back in third, and the runner-up’s connections were keen to praise the winner as well as their own runner’s effort.

Julia Roemich, assistant to trainer Marcel Weiss, said: “We were very happy with the performance. The horse who won the race was the best horse on the day, but we were really proud to be several lengths in front of other good horses.

“From our point of view, Torquator Tasso produced a real performance, he did not finish where he did because of the circumstances of the race.

“I know some people are criticising the race because the good three-year-olds are not running as well as expected, but we think it was a real race and a good race. We thought the winner looked gorgeous before the race and he really liked the distance and the track.

“A faster pace would have suited us better but as our jockey said, Torquator Tasso might be a bit better on softer ground but he is still very good on quicker ground like it was at Ascot.”

She added: “We had lots of respect for the opposition before the race and he proved that he is the right class for these races. He can run to this level against these horses whether it’s in France, England or anywhere in the world; he makes us so proud.”

Pyledriver: King George winner on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Torquator Tasso, who races in the colours of owners Peter-Michael Endres and Karl-Dieter Ellerbracke, is the general 8-1 third favourite for the Arc, with Pyledriver 14-1 after his victory at Ascot.

The market is headed by Derby winner Desert Crown at 5-1, who missed the King George due to a foot problem, which has also ruled him out of running in next month’s Juddmonte International at York.

Torquator Tasso is set to line up in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden on September 4, which he won last year, before heading on to the Arc, where he will attempt to emulate the likes of Alleged, Treve and Enable by winning successive runnings of Europe’s biggest race.

“He came out of the race perfectly, he’s a very good horse to travel,” Roemich said. “He was a bit tired when he got home, but he was hungry – as usual – and in perfect condition, so we’re happy with him.

“He will have one more start at Baden-Baden to prepare for the Arc as that is the perfect time from the King George and before Paris. That will keep him in top shape and we hope he can give another good run before he goes for the Arc.”

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (October 2, Longchamp)

Sky Bet: 5 Desert Crown, 7 Titleholder, 8 Torquator Tasso, Vadeni, 9 Alpinista, 12 Onesto, 14 Pyledriver, 16 Free Wind, Verry Elleegant, 20 bar.

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