By Tom Frary
Third in last year's G1 Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden, Gestut Auenquelle's Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was on top this time as he mastered the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) in a pulsating finale to Sunday's contest. Sent off the 9-5 favourite, the 2020 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin hero who was runner-up in the most recent renewal of that Hoppegarten prize last time Aug. 8 raced in fourth early with Rene Piechulek content to wait off the steady pace. Delivered to tackle Godolphin's Passion and Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole, he soon had that rival's measure before fighting off the attentions of the 3-year-old to score by a length, with 3 3/4 lengths back to the tiring Passion and Glory in third. There was a footnote to this edition, with the filly Pessemona (GB) (War Command) planting in the stalls and tailing off and the French challenger Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) running out on the bend to the back straight and being pulled up.
Torquator Tasso, who had been denied only by In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the 2020 G1 Deutsches Derby before his third to Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) in this, was seen out only twice more last term when winning the Grosser Preis von Berlin and finishing second in Munich's G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern. Sixth on his return in the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft over 11 furlongs at Mulheim June 6, the bay bounced back with a 4 1/2-length success in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis der Baum Unternehmensgruppe at Hamburg July 3 before losing out to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) defending his crown in the Grosser Preis von Berlin. Paying a handsome compliment to Kirsten Rausing's filly here, he can lay claim to being his country's leading middle-distance performer as a result and now has the ultimate prize in his sights.
Karl-Dieter Ellerbracke, owner of Gestut Auenquelle, said, “This was a very emotional victory, it was our first victory in this race following two seconds before with Gonbarda and Oriental Tiger. Torquator Tasso showed his class and will now run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and will be ridden by Rene Piechulek again. If all goes well, he will also remain in training as a 5-year-old and eventually take up stud duties at our stud.”
The dam Tijuana (Ger) (Toylsome {GB}) is a half-sister to three black-type performers headed by the G2 Diana-Trial winner Tusked Wings (Ire) also by Adlerflug. The listed-placed third dam Turbaine (Trempolino) is kin to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and remarkable producer Urban Sea (Miswaki), which links the winner to Galileo (Ire) and Sea the Stars (Ire) et al while the fourth dam is the legendary blue hen Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {GB}) who is related to Adlerflug himself. Tijuana's unraced 2-year-old colt Tijuan Hilleshage (Ger) is by Guiliani (Ire), her yearling is a full-sister to Torquator Tasso named Tiara Hilleshage (Ger) and she also has a colt foal again by Adlerflug.
Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
149TH WETTSTAR GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €160,000, Baden-Baden, 9-5, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:29.21, g/s.
1–TORQUATOR TASSO (GER), 132, c, 4, 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. €100,000. Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-1, €391,800. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sisfahan (Fr), 125, c, 3, Isfahan (Ger)–Kendalee (Fr), by Kendargent (Fr). (€20,000 Ylg '19 ARNOV). O-Darius Racing; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Henk Grewe. €33,000.
3–Passion and Glory (Ire), 132, g, 5, Cape Cross (Ire)–Potent Embrace, by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor. €17,000.
Margins: 1, 3 3/4, 2. Odds: 1.80, 2.50, 2.70.
Also Ran: Kaspar (Ger), Vallando (Ger), Pessemona (GB). Also Ran (DNF): Millebosc (Fr). Scratched: Isfahani (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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