Cartier Horse of the Year Treve bounces back with stunning second Arc success

There is an old adage in racing which decrees "they never come back".

However, that conventional wisdom was well and truly blown away at Longchamp on Sunday, October 5, when Treve landed her second Group One Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in tremendous fashion.

The four-year-old Motivator filly, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek for Al Shaqab Racing, became only the seventh dual winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the first since Alleged in 1977 /1978.

Treve scooped the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Awards in 2013 after a tremendous unbeaten year.

She had not been seen at her best in her three previous runs this year, but was the impressive two-length scorer in Europe's premier all-aged middle-distance contest, which offers more prize money than any other turf race in the world.

She now has 84 points in the latest standings for the Cartier Racing Awards, entering the top 10 for both the Cartier Horse Of The Year and Cartier Older Horse Awards. Whether she wins the ultimate accolade again will depend on public votes and the views of the Cartier panel of journalists.

The Cartier Racing Awards honour the champions of European horseracing and will be announced before an invited audience of 300 on the evening of Tuesday, November 11, 2014.

European horseracing's equivalent of the Oscars are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races throughout 2014 (40%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists (30%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph plus Channel 4 Racing viewers (30%).

Channel 4 Racing joined The Daily Telegraph and Racing Post as media partners of the Cartier Racing Awards towards the end of the last year.

The Cartier Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. In addition to the eight equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 17-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

Outstanding miler Kingman (208), recently retired, still leads the way on points for the Carter Horse Of The Year Award ahead of dual Derby hero Australia (164), who is likely to run next in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, October 18. Kingman and Australia head the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category, followed by The Grey Gatsby (124), who is also being aimed at the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

Cirrus Des Aigles (124) still holds sway in the race for the Cartier Older Horse Award, although his advantage would be greater had he not been disqualified for causing interference when first past the post on his return to action in the Group Two Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp on October 4. Integral (92) moves up to second place in this division following her second Group One victory of 2014 in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on the same day.

Taghrooda (124) ran a fine race to take third in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and she is clear in the race for honours in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category, having previously landed the Investec Oaks and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO.

There is no significant change in the standings for Cartier Sprinter Award, with the Edward Lynam-trained duo of Slade Power and Sole Power continuing to share the lead on 72 points.  Move In Time (36) enters the reckoning following his success in the Group One QNB Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp on Arc Day.

Likewise Leading Light (80), victorious in the Group One Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, is still ahead in the Cartier Stayer division, followed by Group One Palmerstown Irish St Leger winner Brown Panther (72). High Jinx (38) moves up to after his victory in the Group One Qatar Prix du Cadran at Longchamp on October 5.

The stewards were busy again at Longchamp on October 5 when Gleneagles (64) was demoted from first place to third in the Group One Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. However, the Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo still tops the Carter Two-Year-Old Colt division ahead of Kool Kompany and The Wow Signal (both 48). Full Mast (40) was awarded the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Gleneagles' disqualification.

O'Brien was however on the mark with Found (40) in the Group One Total Prix Marcel Boussac on the same card. She joins Lucida in joint-third place in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly category, trailing Tiggy Wiggy (56) and Cursory Glance (48).

Harry Herbert, Cartier's Racing Consultant, commented: "We were fortunate to witness some outstanding racing over the weekend, with Treve's second Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory being the highlight.

"The season is not over yet, with Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket (October 17) and QIPCO Champions Day (October 18) at Ascot nearly upon us, while the Breeders' Cup in America is on the horizon."