In the end, it was indeed something out of a dream. Treve maintained her unbeaten record with a resounding success in last Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, trouncing what had been billed as one of the most competitive fields assembled for the Longchamp centerpiece (video replay). It was only the fifth racecourse appearance for the 3-year-old Motivator filly, who was drawn out in stall 15 and took the overland journey throughout the early stages. The rangy bay made a decisive move approaching the straight and strode home imperiously while making runners like international star Orfevre look almost ordinary. Her final 600 meters--a distance just shy of three furlongs--were timed in :34.55, which is pretty heady stuff for a 2400-meter race contested on softish ground.
"It’s absolutely amazing," said jockey Thierry Jarnet, who had last ridden Treve during her victory in the G1 Longines Prix de Diane in June. "We don ‘t know her limits. She ran with her nose to the wind, but the right horse always manages to get herself out of difficult situations. I’m over the moon!"
Treve, hailing from the family of notable distaffers Trillion and Triptych, was bred by the Head family's Haras du Quesnay near Deauville. She was offered at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, but was led out unsold at €22,000 and was retained by patriarch Alec Head.
"I could not let her go for such a price," Head said in the press conference following the Arc.
He did let her go a bit later, albeit in far different circumstances. In her third career outing, Treve posted a four-length success in the Diane at Chantilly on June 16; a month later, it was revealed that she had been sold for a rumored €8 million (approximately $10.8 million) to Qatari Sheikh Joaan Al Thani. Frankie Dettori, in his new role as Sheikh Joaan's retained rider, piloted Treve to a smooth win in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille over the Arc's course and distance on September 15, but sustained a broken ankle in a racecourse fall just a few days before Treve was supplemented to the Arc for €100,000.
Those observing the Arc contenders at the gallops in Chantilly indicated that Treve was in fine fettle, and the filly proved that in spades on Sunday. Sporting earplugs as she strode onto the course, Treve sweated up a bit and was keen to get the proceedings underway, but she utilized that nervous energy with aplomb during the race itself. The crowd of 52,000 let loose a healthy roar when the gates opened and the atmosphere was electric. Many Japanese fans were on course to support contenders Orfevre and Kizuna, but it was not to be. Though Treve was pulling at Jarnet in the opening half-mile, she was always traveling along smoothly and, when the 46-year-old reinsman finally moved his hands, Treve settled the matter in just a few strides. It is hard to remember an Arc winner hitting the front so early.
The grandstand erupted into cheers as Treve crossed the finish line, and trainer Criquette Head-Maarek high-fived the fans as she made her way back to the parade ring for the trophy presentations. It was her first Arc victory since 1979, when she saddled her parents' filly Three Troikas. Alec Head bred the filly Detroit, who captured the Arc for Robert Sangster in 1980, and trained another female Arc winner the following season when Gold River scored for owner Jacques Wertheimer, but he offered that Treve was their superior.
"It is extraordinary!" he enthused. "She had the worst possible race and yet won brilliantly. What a filly! I have trained good horses, but ones like that…"
It was a great day for the Head family, with Freddy Head saddling G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Moonlight Cloud two races after the Arc. George Strawbridge's homebred motored past her rivals to post her third straight success at the top level. Coincidentally, Moonlight Cloud shares the same bottom pedigree line as Treve.
Treve--which means "truce" in French--will stay in training next year with a mission to be the first two-time Arc winner since Alleged accomplished the feat in 1977-78. Her Longchamp performance was rated higher than the two most recent fillies to prevail in the marquee event, Danedream and Zarkava. Can she do any better next year? I'm not sure, but it will certainly be fun to see her try.
Photos copyright APRH
No comments:
Post a Comment