Arc-winning trainer Peter Schiergen looks set to ensure jockey Frankie Dettori and Torquator Tasso do not have an easy time of things in the Sept. 4 €200,000 Grosser Preis von Baden (G1).
Schiergen has confirmed that IDEE Deutsches Derby (G1) winner Sammarco will take on Torquator Tasso in one of the most eagerly awaited matchups in recent German racing history, in a race that could have a major bearing on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) four weeks later.
Torquator Tasso won the 1 1/2-mile Grosser Preis 12 months ago en route to his shock success in the Arc, and is a general 7-1 chance to repeat his victory at Longchamp after putting up an excellent display in finishing second to Pyledriver in the QIPCO King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) July 23 at Ascot Racecourse. The 5-year-old son of the late Adlerflug captured the Wettstar.de Grosser Hansa-Preis 200 Jahre Deutscher Galopp (G2) prior to the King George.
Sammarco, who didn't make his first start until May of this year, has won his last three races after finishing second in his career unveiling. The Camelot colt took the Sparkasse KolnBonn Union-Rennen (G2) in his stakes debut at Koln before getting the best of a desperate three-way photo to land the IDEE Deutsches Derby (G1) July 3 in Hamburg. He then showed that performance was no fluke when defeating older opposition for the first time in the Grosser Dallmayr Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1) at Munchen four weeks later.
While Sammarco would need to be supplemented for the Arc at a cost of €120,000, Schiergen said he and owner Helmut von Finck of Gestüt Park Wiedingen would give that serious consideration if Sammarco puts up a good performance at Baden-Baden.
Schiergen, who landed the Grosser Preis/Arc double with Danedream in 2011, said: "I'll talk with the owner after the race, and if Sammarco runs well, we'll see about the Arc. He's been working well and I was very pleased with his most recent gallop."
Regular jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev will be back on Sammarco, having missed his most recent success at Munchen.
Torquator Tasso's usual rider, Rene Piechulek, deputized on Sammarco in Murzabayev's absence but will partner neither of the two favorites in the Grosser Preis, owing to his retainer with the owner of Mendocino, a situation that has led trainer Marcel Weiss to call up Frankie Dettori for the ride on Germany's highest-rated horse.
