Treve Returns From Injury in Prix Vermeille

Star French mare Treve will try to get back her winning ways Sept 14 in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Fr-I), the the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) prep for fillies and mares at Longchamp. 

 

Sunday's card includes two other Arc preps: the Qatar Prix Foy (Fr-II) and Qatar Prix Neil (Fr-II), as well as the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-I).

 

A 4-year-old Motivator filly, Treve captured last year's Prix Vermeille by 1 3/4 lengths before a brilliant five-length victory over Orfevre in the Arc to cap her season undefeated 

 

Criquette Head-Maarek, who trains Treve for Sheikh Joaan Al Thani's Al Shaqab Racing, told Racing Post last week that her filly would probably need the race, which will mark her return from a back injury sustained in a third-place behind The Fugue and Magician in the Prince of Wales's (Eng-I) in June at Royal Ascot.

 

"She will have a proper trial because it is a group I, but I don't want her to be knocked about," she said of Treve, who was second to Cirrus des Aigles in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) in her 2014 debut in April. "We will go through it as a trial for the Arc like last year, when Frankie (Dettori) saved her and didn't give her a hard race. If the Vermeille was the end for her that's different, but it's just a necessary step."

 

Thierry Jarnet was Treve's regular rider last year and will be back aboard Sunday.

 

Challengers include Pomology, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Arch   who is unbeaten in four career starts. She comes in off a victory over stablemate and Vermeille entrant Sultanina and 2013 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) victress Talent in the Lanchashire Oaks (Eng-II) in July for trainer John Gosden. Sultanina bounced back and won the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) Aug. 2 at Goodwood.

 

The Prix Foy at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) is the Arc prep for older runners. Top contenders include French group I winner Flintshire, runner-up to Cirrus des Aigles in the Coronation Cup (Eng-I) in June at Epsom; Ruler of The World, who is winless since taking the 2013 Epsom Derby (Eng-I) but group I-placed, and Spiritjim, the first-place finisher in seven of nine career starts, including the June 29 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I), his top-level debut from which he was recently disqualified for a clenbuterol positive. 

 

The Prix Neil is the Arc prep for the classic division. Trainer Aidan O'Brien has two for the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) race in U.S. grade I winner Adelaide (IRE) and French group I winner Gallante.

 

Adelaide took the Secretariat Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 16 at Arlington International Racecourse after a close runner-up finish to Mr Speaker in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) July 5 at Belmont Park. Gallante comes in with consecutive wins, including a neck victory over Prince of Gibraltar in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I) at 2,400 meters July 13 at Longchamp.

 

Also entered is Ectot, who sports a 5-1-0 record from six starts for French trainer Elie Lellouche. He won last year's Criterium International (Fr-I) in his season finale, and the Prix de Fontainebleau (Fr-III) in April, his only start this year, defeating Karakontie, who bounced back to win the Prix d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-I, French Two Thousand Guineas). 

 

Trainer Richard Hannon has a two-prong attack for the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at 1,600 meters (about one mile) with English classic winner Night of Thunder and group I winner Toronado.

 

Night of Thunder won the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) by a half length from Europe's current top miler Kingman, with eventual English/Irish Derby winner Australia, back in third. Toronado comes in with a win over U.S. grade I winner Verrazano   in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) in June at Royal Ascot and a second to Kingman in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) July 30 at Goodwood most recently.

 

Trainer Freddy Head will send out Charm Spirit, who was fifth to Night of Thunder in the Two Thousand Guineas but rebounded with two group wins including the Prix Jean Prat (Fr-I) July 14 at Chantilly. 

 

1. 8. Treve (FR) (Motivator), T. Jarnet, 129, C. Head-Maarek

2. 10. Chalnetta (FR) (Oratorio), J. Auge, 129, C. Ferland

3. 1. Siljan's Saga (FR) (Sagamix), C. P. Boudot, 129, J. P. Gauvin

4. 2. Baltic Baroness (GER) (Shamardal), M. Guyon, 129, A. Fabre

5. 4. Pomology (KY) (Arch), W. Buick, 129, J. Gosden

6. 5. Pollyana (IRE) (Whipper), F. Lefebvre, 129, J. Hammond

7. 3. Sultanina (GB) (New Approach), R. Moore, 129, J. Gosden

8. 6. Red Lips (GER) (Areion), F. Veron, 129, A. Lowe

9. 9. Dolniya (FR) (Azamour), C. Soumillon, 120, A. de Royer-Dupre

10. 7. Madame Chang (GB) (Archipenko), M. Barzalona, 120, D. Simcock 

 

1. 6. Toronado (IRE) (High Chaparral), R. Hughes, 128, R. Hannon

2. 10. Grand Vintage (FR) (Marchand de Sable), S. Pasquier, 128, W. Mongil

3. 5. Mogadishio (FR) (American Post), D. Santiago, 128, S. Smrczek

4. 4. Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal), T. Bachelot, 128, M. Rulec

5. 8. Esoterique (IRE) (Danehill Dancer), M. Guyon, 128, A. Fabre

6. 1. Charm Spirit (IRE) (Invincible Spirit), T. Jarnet, 128, F. Head

7. 9. Decathlete (KY) (Medaglia d'Oro), M. Barzalona, 128, A. Fabre

8. 3. Master Carpenter (IRE) (Mastercraftsman), C. Soumillon, 123, B. Millman

9. 2. Night of Thunder (IRE) (Dubawi), R. Moore, 123, R. Hannon

10. 7. Bawina (IRE) (Dubawi), O. Peslier, 120, C. Laffon-Parias