Torquator Tasso camp eye Arc as Beckett and Dettori react to King George flops

Connections of the fancied Classic generation were left wondering what went wrong, but there was less soul-searching for the Torquator Tasso team after last year's Arc hero ran a fine race to finish second on his British debut.

The German star's season has been built around a repeat Longchamp bid on October 2 and jockey Rene Piechulek believes the five-year-old “has not yet reached his top level this year”.

The Marcel Weiss-trained Torquator Tasso could not emulate successful German raiders Danedream and Novellist but chased home Pyledriver, finishing two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, and was eight lengths clear of Mishriff in third.

Torquator Tasso, who was cut to 10-1 (from 25) with William Hill to land a second Arc, has improved with each run this year, finishing a below-par sixth in a Group 2 at Baden-Baden before a victory at the same level at Hamburg.

This was another step in the right direction, particularly given his best form is on easier ground than the good to firm, good in places at Ascot.

Piechulek said: “He had a perfect race – there was a good pace throughout. I had a great position behind the winner and it was a great run. All eyes are now on the Arc.

“The ground is fast and on softer ground we would be closer to the winner. It was his third run of the year and he’s not yet reached his top level. I’m very proud of him – the race was full of good horses and he was clear of the rest.”

Westover: finished a well-beaten fifth in the King GeorgeCredit: Patrick McCann

The Classic generation failed to fire with Irish Derby winner and 13-8 favourite Westover racing keenly before weakening well out of contention, beaten 18 lengths in fifth.

His trainer Ralph Beckett said: "There was nothing that you and I couldn't see. They didn't go on as we thought they would and it didn't happen for us."

Oaks second Emily Upjohn pulled hard and trailed in last, a further seven lengths behind her fellow three-year-old. Her rider Frankie Dettori said: “The trip was too far today at that pace."

Emily Upjohn's stablemate and last year's runner-up Mishriff was notably slowly away, and although latching on to the back of the field, the three-time top-level winner was never able to trouble the principals.

James Doyle, who rode Mishriff for the first time after David Egan and owner Prince Faisal recently parted company, said: "What happened at the start obviously didn't help but we were going downhill, so I was able to cruise up.

"I was able to get up to them but they kept the pedal down and I was never able to properly fill up. The trip has ultimately been shown to be a bit far."

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