Racing

Treve wins back to back Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe crowns

Criquette Head-Maarek’s filly bounces back to form at Longchamp

Jockey Thierry Jarnet raises his whip in triumph as Treve wins back to back Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe titles at Longchamp in Paris. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Jockey Thierry Jarnet raises his whip in triumph as Treve wins back to back Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe titles at Longchamp in Paris. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Sun Oct 05 2014 - 16:04

Treve bounced back to her brilliant best to successfully defend her crown in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Criquette Head-Maarek’s filly was a stunning winner of Europe’s premier middle-distance contest 12 months ago, but had endured a largely forgettable four-year-old campaign prior to her return to Paris.

However, with Thierry Jarnet in the saddle once again, Treve looked much more like her old self, travelling powerfully into the straight towards the far rail.

The field were spread right across the track, but once Jarnet pushed the button as the gap came, Treve showed her stunning acceleration to seal a fantastic victory, becoming the first horse since Alleged in 1977 and 1978 to win back-to-back Arcs.

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Andre Fabre’s Flintshire was best of the rest in second, ahead of Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda and St Leger winner Kingston Hill.

John Gosden’s Taghrooda and the Roger Varian-trained Kingston Hill both emerged with plenty of credit having been drawn very wide.