'He might have won had the pace been stronger' - Arc performances analysed

Torquator Tasso shocked the world at Longchamp on Sunday as he overturned big guns Tarnawa, Hurricane Lane, Adayar and Snowfall to land a memorable victory for Germany in Europe's richest and most prestigious race. Each performance comes under our expert microscope here.

2021 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: full result and expert analysis

Torquator Tasso

The pace was steady early on – several of these raced keenly – but the winner was in touch with the leaders and, from that position, his stamina proved key.

Torquator Tasso was runner-up in last year's German Derby behind In Swoop (same sire), a horse who was later second in the 2020 Arc, and this colt had most recently won the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden, a race in which he was only third last term. He's a two-time Group 1 winner in Germany overall and here he proved himself high class on the international stage, although this test really played to his strong-galloping style.

Rene Piechulek is mobbed after winning the Arc on Torquator TassoCredit: Christophe Archambault (AFP Getty Images)

He had a wide trip and was keen early, so did well to keep on, but he was more forwardly placed than the next two finishers and just ground this out. He didn't record any sub 12sec splits – his penultimate 12.04sec was his quickest – whereas three of his rivals dipped under that mark, but while some used their reserves in trying to get into contention, this colt just stayed on, his 12.44sec being fastest of all through the final section. He's a third German winner of the Arc after Star Appeal (1975) and Danedream (2011).

Tarnawa

Tarnawa, winner of the Opera on this card last year and most recently runner-up in the Irish Champion Stakes, was slowly away and the jockey briefly had an issue with an iron early on, but the steady early pace allowed her to soon find an okay position. The more forwardly placed winner just outstayed her, this mare showing her speed with an 11.76sec penultimate section, the fastest of any horse in the race, before just being held late on.

She won the Breeders' Cup Turf last year and is a possible for the meeting again this time around – more emphasis on speed around the US tracks plays to her strengths – although the ground will likely be firmer at Del Mar than for her win at Keeneland.

Hurricane Lane

Hurricane Lane has had a fine season, most recently winning the St Leger, and this was another big run, best of the three-year-olds. He raced freely early and was short of room at the top of the straight, but made his bid from 2f out, quickening somewhat – his 11.87sec penultimate section was the second-fastest of the race, bettered only by the runner-up – before just having no more to give late on. He might have won this had the pace been stronger, although this did come only three weeks on from the Leger.

Hurricane Lane (blue, white cap) was beaten just three-quarters of a length in an impressive showing just three weeks on from his St Leger victoryCredit: Christophe Archambault (AFP Getty Images)

Adayar

Adayar, the Derby and King George winner, seemed to settle well enough early but was then lit up two or three furlongs in and was in front after four furlongs, and he couldn't quicken in the closing stages. That early freshness and the taxing ground seemed to blunt him, and it may also be worth remembering he missed his intended prep for this race, although Charlie Appleby said before he had "not missed a beat since".

Sealiway

Sealiway, so impressive in the 7f Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on this card the previous year, had never tried this far. He tanked into contention but from further back than ideal and couldn't sustain a challenge.

Snowfall

Snowfall, beaten in her prep for this, was a touch keen early, and was then shuffled back in the pack around halfway. She briefly looked like running on best in the straight, one of only three horses to post a sub 12sec split when going 11.98sec in the penultimate section, but her finish was surprisingly weak, getting the final stage in 13.12sec.

Snowfall: may have found the ground too testingCredit: Edward Whitaker

Chrono Genesis

Chrono Genesis, a high-class Japanese-trained mare, was kept apart from the others early but looked nicely placed on the speed by the time she joined up with them, before finishing weakly. She hadn't run since June but has a good record fresh. Perhaps the ground was too testing for her, but in any case Japan's long wait for a win in this race goes on.

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Bubble Gift

Bubble Gift, narrow winner of the Prix Niel, plugged on from last after a slow start.

Alenquer

Alenquer, most recently runner-up in the Juddmonte International, failed to see this out having been keen up front early on.

Mojo Star

Mojo Star, runner-up to Adayar in the Derby and to Hurricane Lane in the Leger, had a better trip than many but failed to pick up.

Broome

Broome, a bit like when fourth in the King George, missed the break before being rushed up. He was beaten at the top of the straight.

Raabihah

Raabihah, dropped out from the widest gate, ended up having an inside trip but she found little for pressure.

Baby Rider

Baby Rider, a nose second to Bubble Gift in the Niel, was dropped out from a wide stall and pulled hard. He had to wait for room at the top of the straight but found nothing when in the clear.

Deep Bond

Deep Bond, another Japanese contender, warmed up for this with a front-running win in the Prix Foy. But under a different jockey this time, he raced off the pace before challenging on the outside of the winner around the final turn. It was a short-lived bid.

What they said

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Adayar and Hurricane Lane
William said Adayar didn't like the ground – he was going in it not going through it. Coming back on decent ground next year I can see this horse being at the top of his game between ten furlongs and a mile and a half. Turning in you felt William's got everything right and he went there to go and win the race. We knew the challengers were going to come with that late run. Hurricane Lane was slightly shuffled back because of the pace on a horse we knew was going to see out the trip well but James has given him every opportunity and at one stage it looked like he might get there in time. It was a gruelling race but I'm delighted with how they ran and they're exciting horses for next season.

Charlie Appleby: 'I'm delighted with how they ran and they're exciting horses for next season'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Rene Piechulek, rider of Torquator Tasso
There was not a lot of pace in the race so I immediately tried to get a position with the leading horses. I wanted to be in a spot where when we got into the straight I could really launch my horse. The longer the straight the better he gets so I was keen to make full use of him. I was honoured just to be able to ride in the Arc. I want to thank the owners, breeders and trainer for letting me ride Torquator Tasso, even though I hadn't taken part in the race before. I can't believe I've won. Wait until tomorrow, then I might believe it.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Tarnawa
Tarnawa has run a superb race. She was in great order coming into the race. Her speed was of limited value today. I honestly believe if we didn't have all the rain last night she'd have won. This had always been my target but second is a lonely place. When she won the Breeders' Cup she showed tremendous pace. When she won her two Group 1s here last year she showed a lot of pace. You didn't quite see that pace today because of the gluey ground. The Breeders' Cup Turf again or the Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares would be considered.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Snowfall and Broome
It might have been a bit too deep for Snowfall. Turning in it looked like she was going to come there but it was tough going out there. We'll go home and see how she is before deciding whether we go again. Broome ran well and just kept going. The ground was maybe a bit tough for him.

Takashi Saito, trainer of Chrono Genesis
She travelled calmly and took up a good position. I thought she would show a nice turn of foot when she turned into the home straight. However, she emptied at the end because of the heavy ground.

Ryuji Okubo, trainer of Deep Bond
The ground was the heaviest he has experienced and he was not able to take the ideal position. I was worried he might have been injured but he's fine. We will take him home and prepare him for the next race.

Rossa Ryan, rider of Mojo Star
I travelled super into the straight. This lad over 1m4f just seems to always lack half a gear, but you don't want to light him up and make too much use of him. I think Mojo Star is going be a top horse at two miles next year.

Read more on the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe:

Torquator Tasso stuns big-name rivals to spring shock success for Germany in Arc

'If we hadn't had so much rain we'd have won' – Weld rues Tarnawa near-miss

Appleby points to lack of pace after Godolphin challenge comes unstuck in ground

'If the winner wasn't 80-1 we'd be saying it was the best Arc for decades'

How the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe unfolded on testing ground at Longchamp

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe result: where your horse finished

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