Return Journey

The road to a third G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for France’s wonder mare Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) starts at Saint-Cloud Friday, where the G2 Prix Corrida takes on vastly increased significance. Honoring the memory of the only other mare in history to win two renewals of Longchamp’s showpiece, this race serves as a stepping stone for the Criquette Head-Maarek star to the June 28 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, which was also won by the famous Corrida 80 years ago. Al Shaqab’s 5-year-old was the subject of a positive bulletin from the owners’ racing manager Harry Herbert as he spoke on Thursday. “Treve is in fantastic form. I saw her last week and she looked absolutely terrific,” he said. “She’s fuller than she was last year and is moving beautifully, seeming to have retained all her old zest. Provided she’s straight enough and she’s done enough work-wise, which I’m sure she has, hopefully she’ll give a really good account of herself.” Herbert believes that Treve, who is saddled with a penalty for her latest emphatic Arc victory, is at more of a peak than when second on her return in the G1 Prix Ganay in 2014. “It’s wonderful having her for this attempt for a third Arc,” he continued. “Everything that goes on at this time of year is a bonus, as she’s a proper autumn filly. It seems to be that she thrives later on in the year but, I have to say, there is a different look about her right now than perhaps I saw in the spring of last year. She had a little back issue and some foot issues then, but she seems really well and the way she’s moving and striding out is impressive. I know Thierry Jarnet couldn’t have been happier with her the other day and was all smiles. She’s a remarkable racehorse and it’s just so exciting for everybody to see her back on the track. At the moment, it’s a four-race campaign–the Corrida, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G1 Prix Vermeille [at Longchamp Sept. 13] and then the [Oct. 4] Arc.” Also saddled with a penalty is George Strawbridge’s 2014 G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who was a touch disappointing on her return when fourth behind Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) and Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Longchamp’s G1 Prix Ganay over 10 1/2 furlongs May 3, and also last year’s G1 Preis der Diana winner Feodora (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}). Now switched from Andre Fabre from Andreas Wohler, Gestut Etzean’s homebred was last seen finishing fourth in Munich’s G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern after being a close-up fifth behind We Are in the Opera. Treve’s presence has hardly scared away the opposition, with last year’s G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron and G2 Grand Prix de Deauville scorer Cocktail Queen (Ire) (Motivator {GB}) and the Apr. 27 G3 Prix Allez France winner Mayhem (Ire) (Whipper) also lining up for the challenge.