Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is among the six five-day confirmations for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot on Saturday, along with Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
The 5-year-old German raider was given the green light after a gallop on Monday morning at Mulheim, where he is trained by Marcel Weiss for owner Gestut Auenquelle. He bids to emulate compatriots Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and Novellist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), who won Britain's premier weight-for-age race in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Torquator Tasso, the easy winner of the G2 Hansa-Preis at Hamburg on his most recent outing on July 2, worked over 11 furlongs with his regular jockey Rene Piechulek, with Weiss declaring that he was “very happy” with the horse's final serious prep for Saturday.
“It was a very important piece of work and it gives me a lot of confidence because I saw the horse like he was last year and he's getting better and better through the season,” said the trainer.
“After the Arc we worked out a plan for this year and it was a wish of the owner to go to Ascot before going back to the Arc. Danedream also won the Arc and then the King George for Germany, which tells you that you can try to do it and you can win.”
With record temperatures in England in the early part of this week and only the odd shower of rain possible at Ascot prior to Saturday the ground is unlikely to be too different from its current status of good to firm, good in places.
Weiss added, “The ground will not be a problem; Ascot is a very nice track and it is kept in good condition, especially for the quality horses this weekend.
“At Hamburg he won on fast ground. He's just maybe a bit better when the ground is softer, but he can go on every ground.”
Completing a classy field for the weekend's feature race are the Group 1 winners Broome (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).
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