Sheikh Joaan’s Treve makes Arc history for Qatar

HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani  with HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani in Paris yesterday. HH the Father Emir watched Sheikh Joaan’s Treve win the prestigious Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the Longchamp racecourse. PICTURE: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover

Paris

The 92nd Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will go down in history. It was for the first time that a Qatari-owned horse was participating in Europe’s premier event for Thoroughbreds and to come out triumphant in their maiden attempt is simply brilliant.

Treve, owned by HE Shiekh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, outclassed her 17 rivals in the final stages, despite a bad draw, and left the favourite Orfevre stranded in the straight to win the 4.8mn euro contest with absolute ease.

Orfevre had suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the Arc last year when beaten by Solemia in virtually the last stride of the race. The Japanese fans had again flocked to Paris in their thousands, hoping that he would break their nation’s jinx at the Longchamp racecourse yesterday.

The only three-year-old filly in the race, Treve drew stall number 15 and had to run with her nose to the wind.  She remained on the outside of the pack throughout but showed brilliance even when the pace in the first part of the race was not very sustained, with Joshua Tree leading just in front of Penglai Paivilion and Ocovango.

Her jockey, Thierry Jarnet, took the opportunity to get Treve closer in the descent and to bring her up to the front with the pacemakers at the beginning of the final straight. Within a short span of time, Treve went from near the rear to right on the shoulder of the leaders, without ever giving the slightest indication that the feat had required any effort at all.

As soon as the Criquette Head-Maarek-trained Treve felt her jockey pushing her on, she stormed to the front and sealed the fate of the race with a furlong out. Treve continued to draw clear all the way to the line, crossing into history with an astonishing five-length victory over one of the most talented Arc fields in years.

Also coming up to the final straight with ease, having stuck to Intello like his shadow and staying on the front line of the battle, Orfevre was quickly left with no alternative but to concede defeat in the light of Treve’s crushing superiority.

The Japanese challenger even had to fight to get the better of Intello and grab second place. Kizuna, the other Japanese contender, ran extremely well, taking the fourth place from Penglai Pavilion.

“This is a victory for Qatar, not only for me. It was a brilliant performance by Treve to win the way she did. This has all been possible because of the excellent team work. I noticed that were many Japanese supporters at the racecourse to support Orfevre and I hope that we will have more supporters from Qatar to support us next year,” HE Sheikh Joaan told  Gulf Times.

An emotional QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain, with tears in his eyes while watching the presentation ceremony, said: “This is a huge achievement for Qatar. Six years ago, the Qatari owners were unknown in the Group I level and to win the Arc in such a short time is excellent. This has all been possible because of the support of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. This is just the beginning for Qatar and I am sure Qatari-owned horses will dominate in the future.”

“This is a wonderful day for us. I knew Treve had the potential after seeing her previous three runs. I am so glad for Treve to have won the biggest race in Europe. There is no race like the Arc. It was such an emotional moment to watch HE Sheikh Joaan receive the trophy and also to see the jockey in Qatari colours,” Sami added.

“The way she has won is absolutely brilliant. I thought she had six gears but Treve seems to have a seventh gear,” said trainer Head-Maarek.

“She didn’t have the best of luck in running. She never got any cover but no matter what draw and no matter the ground, it makes no difference. She is part of the family now and is like a sister to me.”

Head-Maarek also paid tribute to Dettori, who had ridden Treve to victory in the Prix Vermeille last month.  “I’d like to thank Frankie Dettori. I told him to give her an easy ride in her last race and to use no whip,” she said.

Jockey Jarnet takes home his third Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after having won two Arc races with Subotica (1992) and Carnegie (1994).