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Grosser Preis von Baden: Frankie Dettori hit with 14-day ban as Torquator Tasso beaten by Mendocino

The 2022 Arc winner was edged out by Mendocino and Rene Piechulek, who usually rides Torquator Tasso; Dettori was hit with the ban for going over the amount of strikes allowed in Germany; he will still be available to ride in the St Leger and in the Arc, both live on Sky Sports Racing

Frankie Dettori
Image: Frankie Dettori was hit with a 14-day ban in Germany on Sunday.

Frankie Dettori and Torquator Tasso were narrowly denied in their quest to land the Grosser Preis von Baden - with Dettori handed a 14-day ban for misuse of the whip.

Dettori, who had been touched off in the Group Two Brunner-Oettingen Rennen earlier on the card, was adjudged to have struck Torquator Tasso six times which is one over Germany's permitted limit of five.

The ban will run from September 18 to October 1 inclusive, which means the evergreen Italian is free to ride in the St Leger next Saturday and also the Arc itself on October 2, where he will be attempting to enhance his fine record in the French capital aboard last year's winner.

Torquator Tasso
Image: Torquator Tasso

The race was won by Torquator Tasso's usual pilot Rene Piechulek, who has ridden the runner-up in his last six appearances, including when landing this Baden-Baden Group One 12 months ago, before the duo moved on to ParisLongchamp glory.

However, he was claimed to ride Frau Steinberg's Mendocino as retained jockey to owner Stall Salzburg and produced a fine ride to edge out the favourite in a photo finish.

The St Leger Festival live on Sky Sports Racing
The St Leger Festival live on Sky Sports Racing

Watch every race from the St Leger Festival from Doncaster, including the final British Classic of the year, live only on Sky Sports Racing from September 7-10

Anchored at the back of the field for much of the way, Piechulek made a race-winning move by bagging the stands rail once push came to shove in the home straight, and although Dettori made use of every ounce of Torquator Tasso's proven stamina, it was not enough to stop the outsider of the field coming out on top.

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It was the four-year-old's first victory since scoring at this meeting last year and he was also winning a Group One at the first time of asking. German Derby winner Sammarco put down a strong challenge at one stage, but ultimately had to settle for third.

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