Treve Progressing Well Towards Corrida; Toast Recuperating

French racing star Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) is reportedly pleasing trainer Criquette Head-Maarek ahead of her eagerly awaited seasonal debt in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint Cloud May 29. The brilliant filly was last seen galloping to a second successive victory in the G1 Prix De l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris last October and her campaign this season is very much geared to securing a third victory in the middle distance contest. 

The 5-year-old will be partnered by Thierry Jarnet this season and Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing, said, “Treve is in terrific form and is moving well. Criquette Head has got her exactly right where she wants her. She will run at the end of May all being well and as long as the ground is in her favor. Hopefully she will then go for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. She won’t go to Royal Ascot this season as she is a proper mile-and-a-half horse. Everything is being primed for her to try and win a third Arc, which is very exciting for her owners.”

   Al Shaqab Racing may be without Treve on their Royal Ascot squad but they will still field a strong team with fellow French trained Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) in line for a tilt at the G1 Prince Of Wales S. Though well beaten in last year’s Arc, the Ellie Lellouche trained 4-year-old blew his chance by pulling hard during the race and Herbert is hopeful of a good season ahead. 

   “I went to see Ectot and he looked really well. He will be going for the Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot. He won’t run before Ascot as he has had a little bit of an infection in his foot but he is fine now. It looks like it could be one of the races of the meeting and one with a real international flavor to it.”

Herbert also offered an update on Toast of New York (Thewayyouare), last year’s globetrotting G2 UAE Derby winner who was purchased privately by Al Shaqab earlier this year before being sidelined by a soft tissue injury. Herbert said Toast of New York is unlikely to race this year, but he expressed optimism for the 4-year-olds prospects. 

“Toast Of New York is recuperating well,” Herbert noted. “[Trainer] Jamie Osborne and the team vets are delighted with how he is progressing. I am not sure he will be seen again this season and I would say that the most likely scenario is getting him ready for next year’s Dubai World Cup.”