Impressive Treve powers to second successive Arc win

The filly, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, returned her brilliant best with a superb performance to make it consecutive victories in Europe's richest race, in doing so becoming the first horse in 36 years to win back-to-back Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes.

With jockey Thierry Jarnet back on board as a replacement for Frankie Dettori, Treve surged clear of the 20-runner field with ease, coming in ahead of runner-up Flintshire and race favourite Taghrooda in third.

Head-Maarek insisted the four-year-old daughter of Motivator was back to her old self and who would argue the fact unless to perhaps suggest she was better this time out than a year ago, so with those comments in mind the announcement of Treve’s retirement straight after the race was perhaps something of a surprise.

Unlike 12 months ago, Treve settled on the rail throughout the early stages of the race as she stalked early leader Montviron, but as they approached the turn for home images of last year's majestic five-length romp came flooding back as jockey Jarnet let go of Treve’s potent turn of foot.

Her blistering speed saw her go three, four and then five lengths clear in the home straight and although Flintshire ran a good race to narrow the gap to two lengths inside the final furlong, Treve was not for catching, with the two Classic winners Taghrooda and Kingston Hill just behind.

Speaking afterwards, Head-Maarek said: "When you bring a horse to the racecourse it's because you think it should win. The only problem we had was everyone was saying she should be retired, but today she proved to be coming back to her best.

"Last year I had a horse that I knew was going to win. This year I had a horse that was not 100 per cent.

"We had a fantastic race. When I saw her going into the straight I knew she was going to win, she's got that fantastic turn of foot.

"For me she is a very special horse."

Treve had been beaten on all three occasions this season and was a length and a half behind Baltic Baroness in the Prix Vermeille last time out but Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing, was predictably in awe of Head-Maarek after this special performance.

"She's a remarkable trainer, she never lost faith," he said. "It was a remarkable performance. She (Treve) will be retired, she has little more to prove."

Taghrooda, the Oaks and King George winner, led the British charge staying on well to finish third under Paul Hanagan, having settled into the race on the outside of Treve from a less-than-ideal draw.

The daughter of Sea The Stars is also likely to be retired and travelled smoothly into the home straight but as with the rest of the field had little answer to Treve's phenomenal speed.

Trainer John Gosden said: "She's run a great race, we were wide all the way, we never had any cover but that's the effect of the draw.

"The first and second are very good but they had the blessing of a good draw. She wasn't particularly happy right-handed but that's no excuse."

Gosden added: "We would never have beaten the winner but with a better draw we might have finished second.

"The jockey rode a very fine race, he did everything he could possibly do from that difficult outside draw which isn't a lot of help unless the ground is very soft.

"I think she is retired, the only other possible race really would be the Breeders' Cup Turf - that would be the owner's decision. Otherwise I think she is retired to stud."

Kingston Hill was drawn worst of all but fought a great race by managing to find his way to the front of the field, settling in behind pacemaker Montviron. The St Leger winner battled in the closing stages of the race to grab fourth place on ground that was far from ideal.

Trainer Roger Varian said: "He's run a blinder from that draw and on that ground - I know I bang on about the ground but it was probably not his favourite.

"Andrea [Atzeni] thought he was feeling the ground today. It's his fifth run on it this year and he's not really got his toe in.

"But there were a lot of good horses behind him, he was beaten by a champion and a couple of other stars. He will come back next year hopefully and have another go.

"I wouldn't 100 per cent rule the Champion Stakes out. It was only his fifth run of the year and he takes his racing well so if it got testing we'll see, we'll get him home first."