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Shock Arc hero Torquator Tasso set to stay in training to defend his title

Torquator Tasso: set to remain in training ahead of a possible tilt at the Arc again
Torquator Tasso: set to remain in training ahead of a possible tilt at the Arc againCredit: Edward Whitaker

Shock Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso will remain in training next season with his main target set to be a defence of his Arc crown, according to connections.

The four-year-old defied his starting price of 72-1 to beat a high-class field including English and Irish Derby winners Adayar and Hurricane Lane – as well as dual Oaks heroine Snowfall and star mare Tarnawa – to land the €5 million Group 1 by three-quarters of a length.


2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe full result


Torquator Tasso provided German trainer Marcel Weiss and jockey Rene Piechulek with the biggest win of their careers as well as a third success in the race for Germany, following victories for Danedream in 2011 and Star Appeal in 1975.

Torquator Tasso's connections were undecided on whether he would remain in training next season and had suggested the possibility of running in next month's Japan Cup, but he will now have a break before returning as a five-year-old, with all roads leading back to Paris next autumn.

Rene Piechulek gives Torquator Tasso a loving look after their Arc triumph
Winning connections with Torquator Tasso following his Arc victoryCredit: Christophe Archambault (AFP Getty Images)

Julia Römich, a representative from Weiss' Mulheim an der Ruhr stable, told Equidia: "The Marcel Weiss stable thanks everyone for this Sunday at Longchamp. Torquator Tasso will not run again this year.


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


"His owners [Gestut Auenquelle] have resisted the temptation to go to the Japan Cup so that he can rest up for next year. The objective is to defend his title in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and as such, he will come back to Longchamp next year."

Eight horses have won multiple runnings of the Arc with the last being the great mare Enable, who achieved the feat in 2017 and 2018 before being narrowly denied in her historic hat-trick bid a year later, while Treve also completed the double in 2013 and 2014.


Read more on this:

Arc could move forward to combat growing prospect of heavy ground

'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


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Matt RennieReporter

Published on 7 October 2021inNews

Last updated 09:50, 7 October 2021

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