Last term's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}–Tijuana {Ger}, by Toylsome {GB}) could manage only sixth when contesting Baden-Baden's May 29 G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft on seasonal return last time and bounced back in style to claim a second straight edition of Saturday's G2 wettstar.de Grosser Hansa-Preis at Hamburg. The 13-10 favourite raced third passing the judge first time and remained in that slot for the most part. Sent forward on the turn to go second into the home straight, he drifted wide towards the stands' side rail to seize control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear of overmatched rivals for a clear-cut success. Gestut Auenquelle's 5-year-old hit the line 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Northern Ruler (Ger) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), with Auenquelle's homebred Virginia Storm (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) 1 3/4 lengths adrift in third.
“We agreed to completely forget his last run at Baden-Baden,” rider Rene Piechulek told GaloppOnline. “You can tell straight away when he's in a good mood and he gave me a much better feeling before the race today.” Trainer Marcel Weiss added, “That really was a huge relief. The start of the year was not so good, but that's his biorhythm and you just have to accept it. I'm very satisfied with today's run and everything is now back on track. We will discuss with the owners how to proceed in the coming days.” Gestut Auenquelle's Peter Michael Endres has a more definite plan in mind. “We're going to Ascot for the [G1] King George,” he said. “He'll then go to Baden-Baden [for the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden] and then to the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe]. It is certain that he will become a stallion at Auenquelle next year.”
Torquator Tasso is the second of seven foals out of Tijuana (Ger) (Toylsome {GB}), herself a half-sister to three stakes performers headed by G2 Diana-Trial victrix Tusked Wings (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}). His stakes-placed third dam Turbaine (Trempolino) is a half-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning matriarch Urban Sea (Miswaki), whose progeny list is headed by MG1SW sires Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Sea the Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Urban Sea, of course, is a daughter of legendary blue hen Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {GB}), herself full to Adlerflug's second dam Alya (Ger), which means Allegretta's dual stakes-placed dam Anatevka (Ger) (Espresso {GB}) features 4×5 in Torquator Tasso's pedigree. Tijuana, who has also thrown G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen victor Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), has the unraced 2-year-old filly Tiara Hilleshage (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), a yearling colt by Adlerflug (Ger) and a weanling filly by Guiliani (Ire) to come.
Saturday, Hamburg, Germany
WETTSTAR.DE – GROSSER HANSA-PREIS – 200 JAHRE DEUTSCHER GALOPP-G2, €70,000, Hamburg, 7-2, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:40.43, g/s.
1–TORQUATOR TASSO (GER), 132, h, 5, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB)
2nd Dam: Tucana (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
3rd Dam: Turbaine, by Trempolino
(€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss; J-Rene Piechulek. €40,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 11-14f, MGSW-Ger & G1SW-Fr, 13-6-3-1, €3,288,800. *1/2 to Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Northern Ruler (Ger), 132, c, 4, Ruler Of The World (Ire)–North Sun (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall Ullmann (GER); T-Andreas Wohler. €15,500.
3–Virginia Storm (Ger), 132, c, 4, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Virginia Sun (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). O/B-Gestut Auenquelle (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €8,000.
Margins: 3HF, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.30, 10.00, 12.50.
Also Ran: Best Of Lips (Ire), Alter Adler (Ger), Nacido (Ger). free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Wettstar – Grosser Hansa-Preis – 200 Jahre Deutscher Galopp (G2)
2400m, 70.000 EUR, for 3yo+
HamburgTorquator Tasso (GER)
(5H Adlerflug – Tijuana, by Toylsome)
J : @RenePiechulek
T : Marcel Weiß
O :Gestüt Auenquelle
B :Paul H. Vandeberg pic.twitter.com/qXGkb14cb2— (@WorldRacing1) July 2, 2022
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