Torquator Tasso Springs Surprise in ARC
3 October 2021, Paris, France ~ In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, the curtain fell on the events of the 100th edition of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, sponsored by Qatar through the cooperation between the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and France Galop, the horseracing authority in France, at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, 3 October 2021.
HOGGAR DE L’ARDUS Takes the QAWC (Qatar Arabian World Cup)
Winner of the Qatar Derby Des Pur-Sang Des Arabes De 4ans in at Chantilly, the four-year old pure-bred Arabian HOGGAR DE L’ARDUS (Mister Ginoux x Alfa De L’Ardus) carried the colours of his owner Her Highness Sheika Reem Bint Khalifa Al Thani in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1 PA) at ParisLongchamp on Sunday His Highness His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani presented the World Cup to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Trained by Thomas Fourcy, the colt stormed clear of his rivals under a confident ride from jockey Mickael Barzalona and at four years of age, is already a dual Group 1 winner.
Held up in towards the rear, Hoggar De l’Ardus traveled with plenty of zest. Maxr (Jaffer Asf) took the field along through the early stages and set a good tempo. Favourite Ebraz (Amer) was ridden to his usual tactics and was held up in the rear. The pace slackened on the turn for home and there were plenty of horses still traveling well. Lady Princess (General) looked like the winner as she kicked for home inside the final 400m. Hoggar De l’Ardus was switched towards the inside by Barzalona and stayed on strongly through the field. Inside the final 200m Lady Princess started to hang towards the inside. Running on strongly, Hoggar De L’Ardus battled hard and pulled himself to the lead in the final strides and went on to win by a short head from Lady Princess. Last year’s winner Tayf (Amer) finished third.
Winning jockey Mickael Barzalona said after the race:“He was very easy to ride and tried his best. I followed Olivier Peslier around, as he knows these races so well. He accelerated very well when I asked him”
Bred by Phillipe Menuier, Hoggar De L’Ardus is by Haras De Thouars’ Mister Ginoux (Amer). Menuir also bred the dam, Alfa De L’Ardus (Kash De L’Ardus).
TORQUATOR TASSO SPRINGS SUPRISE IN ARC
Already a Group 1 winner in his native Germany, the Gestut Auenquelle-owned colt TORQUATOR TASSO (Alderflug x Tijuana) scored a surprise victory in the 100th running of the Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, presented the trophies to the winners in presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.
Trained in Germany by Marcel Weiss, the four-year-old was one of the outsiders of the field. Only beaten by three quarters of a length in the 2020 German Derby by last year’s Arc second In Swoop (Alderflug), Torquator Tasso produced a career best to win under an excellent ride from jockey Rene Piechulek.
Drawn wide, Torquator Tasso slotted into mid-division of the field. Traveling three-wide, the colt always looked comfortable as Adayar (Frankel) cut out the early running. With little change to the order and a relatively steady pace being set, the field was tightly grouped. Favourite Tarnawa (Shamardal) traveled well but was boxed in against the rail. On entering the home straight, Torquator Tasso took closer order on the outside and was ridden confidently. Adayar stole a couple of lengths on the field 400m from home but was chased hard by Hurricane Lane (Frankel), Torquator Tasso and also, Tarnawa. Staying on strongly, Torquator Tasso swept over the top in the closing stages and got up to win by three quarters of a length from Tarnawa. Hurricane lane finished third, while early leader Adayar took fourth.
Winning trainer Rene Piechulek said after the race: “That is the first time I have ridden in the Arc and I would like to thank everyone involved for giving me the chance. I wanted to ride him handy and I know how good he can be. When I asked him for an effort in the straight, he gave me everything. I think I will only realize tomorrow what has actually happened”
Bred by Paul H Handenberg, Torquator Tasso is by German stallion Alderflug (In the Wings), who was also the sire of In Swoop, second in last years race. His dam, Tijuana (Toljsome) was placed on her only start and is a half sister to three black-type performers, Titural (Dr Fong), Tahini (Medicean) and Tusked Wings (Alderflug).
~QREC