Treve support ‘dried us’ before historic Arc bid

Last year, Treve became the first horse since Alleged in 1977 and 1978 to win back-to-back Prix de l’Arc – Europe’s richest turf race, with prize money of 5 million euros ($6.3 million). “I would say she’s coming into this race in the form of her life and she’ll have to be. She is well, she was not pulling, she was very relaxed”, she said.

Eagle Top will defend the honour of British older horses when he lines up for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, as red-hot favourite Treve was eased to odds against with a number of firms yesterday.

But everything has gone right for Treve in 2015; she’s won all three of her starts, and her preparatory Arc run in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille yielded a six-length, geared-down victory that left most who saw it wondering how anyone could possibly deny Treve a third Arc. Struggling through foot and back problems in 2014, she lost her first three starts before stepping forward with a second Arc win, this time scoring by two lengths over Flintshire. “She is well”, said Jarnet.

The race will be the last in Longchamp before a two-year refurbishment of the racecourse gets underway, with next year’s Grand Prix de l’Arc being held in Chantilly.

Golden Horn (9/2 at BetVictor) will be ridden by Frankie Dettori on Sunday with the jockey looking for a fourth win in the race.

Head-Maarek also dismissed suggestions that Treve’s Vermeille success might have taken a lot out of the filly.

Told about Oppenheimer’s comments after the workout, Jarnet said: “I’m not so sure about that”.

Sunshine is forecast for the Paris area until Friday, increasing the chances of good to soft ground, something which trainer John Gosden would find acceptable for his Derby hero, victor of the Irish Champion Stakes last time out.

Despite being a Derby victor, Golden Horn has yet to conclusively prove he is as effective over the mile and a half as he is over a mile and a quarter.

There have already been duels of words between Golden Horn owner Anthony Oppenheimer and Jarnet this week with the Englishman suggesting that his colt could beat Treve if the ground is good on Sunday.

The defection of Jack Hobbs is hard to fathom. This year she was brilliant in the Vermeille before being keen in her work. The horses in the neighbouring boxes were not good but Treve has been fine’. History could be made and it would be great for the sport but the irony if Treve is touched off by Golden Horn, ridden by Dettori who is the retained jockey of the owner of Treve whose trainer basically jocked-off the Italian.

He said: “We could run out of stamina at the end of the Arc, especially if the ground is on the soft side of good”. Jack Hobbs would be the selection if he faced the starter but that looks unlikely and the vote goes to Andre Fabre and an eighth Arc victor courtesy of New Bay who is 9/2 with BetVictor (1/4 odds a place).