Treve, trained by 65-year-old French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, has won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp for the second year running. The filly was unbeaten before coming second at Longchamp and then third at Royal Ascot this season when ridden by three-time champion jockey Frankie Dettori. The 11-1 winner had thus been written off in many quarters after three successive defeats, but an electric burst of pace saw her burst through to win by two lengths. Treve is the first horse since Alleged in 1978 to win consecutive runnings of the Europe’s richest race. Flintshire, for seven-time winning trainer Andre Fabre, ran creditably in second, as did the British-trained pair of Taghrooda who finished third and Kingston Hill finishing fourth.
Criquette Head-Maarek remarked, “Treve and her family know all about winning the Arc: Criquette has now won three; her ex-trainer father Alec took the race trophies on four occasions; her grandfather William won a couple; and her brother Freddie was successful in four as a jockey. They are dripping in the race’s heritage. “She is amazing, she is a dream, a great personal satisfaction for me, this is truly wonderful” said Head-Maarek, who brought her stable star back from a run of defeats to land the cherished prize. “I couldn’t believe the gap that opened for her on the rails and then her burst of acceleration was extraordinary.”
Frankie Dettori who had been on board for Treve’s two defeats this season lost ride on the filly, despite being owner Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s retained rider. He was replaced with the filly’s original rider Thierry Jarnet on Criquette Head-Maarek’s request. Al Shaqab racing advisor/spokesman Harry Herbert had remarked, “This is not in any way more of an issue than the fact the trainer feels strongly that the filly reacts particularly well to 
.” French jockey Jarnet partnered the horse to her first three wins, before Sheikh Joaan appointed Dettori as his number one rider for Al Shaqab Racing, and the pair triumphed in last year’s Prix Vermeille at Longchamp. The partnership was set to continue in the 2013 Arc before Dettori’s late injury, when Jarnet was called in as replacement and won praise for his winning ride.
Treve was retired immediately after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and will start a breeding career for Qatari owner Sheikh Joaan al Thani, of Al Shaqab Racing. “I think it’s off to the Sheikh’s stud farm in Normandy and deciding who will be the lucky husband, or husband number one!” said Al Shaqab spokesman Harry Herbert.
