Road to Paris: Torquator Tasso begins Arc defence with Baden-Baden assignment

Torquator Tasso, the German-bred and German-trained horse who shocked the racing world at odds of 79-1 when sweeping to glory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, begins his season at Baden-Baden on Sunday.

The Group 2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft (3.30) has been selected by his meticulous trainer Marcel Weiss as the appropriate jumping off point, with the long-term aim of bringing the five-year-old son of Adlerflug to a peak for defences of the Grosser Preis von Baden in September, then the Arc at the beginning of October.

"Torquator Tasso had had a great winter and is training as well as ever," said Weiss, "but his favourite pastime is sleeping and he never goes without his daily two-hour nap."

Such a laid-back attitude may go some way to explaining Torquator Tasso's predilection for travel, given how far below form he performed in this race 12 months ago when it was run at Mulheim, the track on which he trains every day.

Torquator Tasso and Rene Piechulek shocked the racing world at Longchamp last OctoberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Baden-Baden was the scene of what was, for four weeks, his most famous triumph when landing Germany's biggest all-aged race last September, and should prove more to his liking before longer trips to Hamburg and perhaps Ascot for the King George.

Weiss added: "At the moment he is certainly not at 100 per cent but the big goals for this year are yet to come."

Torquator Tasso has to give 2lb to Group 2 winner Dato, who finished a disappointing last of sixth at Longchamp in the Prix d'Hedouville on his last start, and 4lb to his other rivals.

Also carrying the colours of Gestut Auenquelle, the Henk Grewe-trained Virginia Storm looks to be in the seven-runner line-up to ensure a decent pace.

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