Sisfahan Sets Sights on Breeders' Cup Turf

A month on from Torquator Tasso  springing a major shock in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), another German-trained horse is being aimed at a top international prize, with Sisfahan  being readied for the Nov. 6 $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.

Darius Racing's Sisfahan produced a withering turn of foot to land the July 4 IDEE Deutsches Derby (German Derby, G1) at Hamburg and trainer Henk Grewe is prepared to forgive him for a third-placed effort behind the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Alpinista  in the Grosser Preis von Europa (G1) at Cologne last month

"The race last time was very slow and he needs a fast pace to run at and good ground, so he should get both of those in Del Mar," said Grewe.

In between those two starts the 3-year-old son of Isfahan  pushed Torquator Tasso all the way to the line in what we now know was a red-hot running of the Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden (G1).

Torquator Tasso went on to Longchamp glory as a barely considered 72-1 shot and while bookmakers are yet to quote Sisfahan for the Turf, on a strict line through the Arc winner he only has a quarter of a length to find with ante-post Arc favorite Tarnawa .

Tarnawa is currently entered in defense of her title in the Breeders' Cup Turf in addition to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).

"(Sisfahan) will set off in the early hours of Friday morning and travel via Liege and London," said Grewe. "He has a lot of speed and he doesn't get involved in the race early. He wants plenty of pace in front of him and firm or good ground. I think everything should fit for him on Nov. 6."

Sisfahan's Derby win and the second-placed effort in Germany's biggest all-aged race came under the vastly experienced Andrasch Starke but since he moved yards to become first jockey to Markus Klug, Grewe has called upon French-based Cristian Demuro.

"I think Cristian is a brilliant jockey, really world class," said Grewe. "And I think he is very good on horses who are held up off the pace."

Demuro will be riding in his first ever Breeders' Cup Nov. 6 while Grewe had a taste of the meeting last year when Donjah , also owned by Darius Racing, finished down the field in the Turf at Keeneland.