Retirement confirmed for Treve after Golden Horn wins Arc

Treve has been retired to stud after finishing only fourth in her bid for a record-breaking third Arc de Triomphe victory.

Criquette Head-Maarek's wonder mare was never able to get close enough to John Gosden's colt in her bid to become the first horse ever to win the race three times in succession.

Slowly away, she travelled with fluency around the outside of the field with two furlongs to run, but failed to quicken in the manner which she had done in last year's race and could only keep on at the one pace.

Head-Maarek was magnanimous in defeat and said: "There is no disgrace in being beaten by Golden Horn. He was the Derby winner and there are no excuses.

"Before the race I was scared of Golden Horn, New Bay and Flintshire and they have filled the frame. In racing there are some you win and some in which you get beat, that's the game we are in.

"Golden Horn is an outstanding colt, Flintshire usually finishes behind us, but today he got the better of us, so he has run a great race, and New Bay is the best three-year-old in France. I'm not upset because she has run another great race.

"She deserves to go to stud and enjoy herself now. She has been unforgettable."

The trainer did, however, concede that she wondered whether her heroics in the Vermeille three weeks ago might just have taken the edge off the five-year-old going into this contest.

"She didn't stride with the fluency she displayed in the Vermeille and maybe she had a harder race in the trial than I thought," she said. "She was slowly away too - more slowly away than she has been this season.

"We have to take it on the chin and move on, but to try to blame it on the ground is wrong because it is not that hard.

"Maybe sometimes with fillies they have a day off - maybe she had a day off."

Harry Herbert, racing manager to Treve's owner Sheikh Joaan, confirmed Treve's retirement.

He said: "She's run a great race. Thierry Jarnet is so disappointed as I think she was a bit free early. He just pointed at the ground. He was gutted - he could hardly speak.

"He just said it was too quick for her, but personally I think she was just a little bit keen and a little bit fresh and was never quite in the right spot.

"She had every chance. The winner is awesome. Golden Horn is a worthy champion.

"I don't think she's lost anything in defeat. It's great to have a go and wonderful for Sheikh Joaan to give it a go.

"She's given everyone a huge thrill, but hats off to Golden Horn, John Gosden, Frankie and the Oppenheimers. It's a wonderful achievement.

"She is the legacy. You always hope there's another one going to come along like that. That's going to be tough to replicate.

"I think when you taste the buzz and fun and all the ups and downs, mainly ups, that this filly has brought Sheikh Joaan and his family, it's absolutely awesome.

"I think Sheikh Joaan would say it's such a privilege to have owned her and she'll go on now to the stud and hopefully be a wonderful broodmare."