LONGCHAMP, France // It was not to be.
Golden Horn shattered any dreams Treve might create her own slice of history when the English Derby winner powered to victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe under an intelligent ride by Frankie Dettori.
No horse had previously shown the longevity and brilliance of Treve in the 94 runnings of Europe’s most valuable race, and in her attempt to win for an unprecedented third time the five-year-old mare could finish only fourth to John Gosden’s bay colt.
Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek had said before the race that alongside Golden Horn she feared the threat of Andre Fabre’s pair of Flintshire and New Bay, and sure enough they respectively filled the podium in second and third.
It was a fourth win in the €5 million (Dh20.6m) race for Dettori and the Italian could not contain his showmanship as he crossed the line, standing up in his irons and roaring a salute at the packed grandstands that are set to be demolished ahead of next year’s race in Chantilly.
Last year, Dettori had to stomach having to make way for Thierry Jarnet at the insistence of Head-Maarek, Treve’s trainer, and although revenge is a dish best served cold the 44-year-old rider was good enough not to say so afterwards.
“There is no revenge,” he said. “Treve has been a great mare. I am only concentrating on Golden Horn today.
“My boss, Sheikh Joaan, was in the winners’ enclosure and gave me a high five.”
In the aftermath of Treve’s second Arc win 12 months ago, Head-Maarek was persuaded to give the daughter of Motivator one more season. There were murmurings that if she had secured a third win she may have one more campaign, but after two Arcs and a French Oaks she has earned her retirement.
“It is always disappointing when you get beaten as you are always here to win,” Head-Maarek said.
“Forget Treve, she was beaten by a really good horse.
“There is no disgrace to be beaten by horses such as that and there are no excuses.
“She deserves to go to stud.”
In truth, Treve looked like she needs it, too.
She was slow out of the stalls for the first time and there is the suspicion that her impressive effort in last month’s Prix Vermeille may have left its mark.
She was shuffled back to 10th place as her pacemaker Shahah took the 17-runner field along under Gregory Benoist.
Dettori followed the plan hatched in tandem with trainer John Gosden to keep their line from Stall 14, and for the first 300 metres Golden Horn was racing wide and detached from his rivals that were clinging to the rail.
Dettori edged Golden Horn across to save valuable energy, and he finally anchored his mount on to the coat-tails of pacemaker Shahah.
Flintshire and New Bay were in Golden Horn’s slipstream for much of the race, which resulted in Treve having to empty the petrol gauge to catch up.
As Shahah tired coming in to the short straight, Dettori urged Golden Horn in to the lead on the inside, while Treve’s challenge out wide petered out.
“Today you saw the real Golden Horn,” Dettori said. “He is possibly the best horse I have ridden on this performance.
“He has put great horses to bed behind him like a great champion.
“He was like a rocket.”
Anthony Oppenheimer confirmed afterwards that Golden Horn would also be retired and to Darley’s Dalham Hall stud, but he was less clear about what happens before then.
Golden Horn’s constitution is such that this was his seventh run of the season and there is the distinct possibility of one last hurrah in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland at the end of the month.
“If you have a good horse you have to race it and enjoy it,” the owner said.
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