Scintillating Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Treve has completed her final preparations for next week's Royal Ascot meet, where she's aimed for the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I).
After going unbeaten at ages 2 and 3, capped last October by her five-length Arc win over Japanese star Orfevre, the 4-year-old daughter of Motivator suffered her first career defeat on her 2014 debut in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) at Longchamp in April but was a creditable second to Europe's top-rated horse in training, Cirrus des Aigles. She looks to make amends in the Prince of Wales's.
While Cirrus des Aigles pulled up lame in his recent start, the June 7 Coronation Cup (Eng-I) at Epsom, and will miss the June 18 Prince of Wales's, Treve's main challenger could be trainer Aidan O'Brien's 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) victor Magician , who most recently was second to Noble Mission in the May 25 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I) at the Curragh.
Criquette Head-Maarek, who trains Treve for Sheikh Joaan Al Thani's Al Shaqab Racing, told At The Races she is pleased at how Treve has been training ahead the 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales's, arguably Royal Ascot's most important race. She also has indicated that if the filly runs well at Royal Ascot, she could be aimed for the 1 1/2-mile QIPCO King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot July 26.
"There's no complications; she's on her way," Head-Maarek said of Treve. "If she wins (at Royal Ascot) she'll go for the Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) and then the Arc. If she doesn't win and we have to drop her in class; we'll see."
The Royal meet runs from June 17-21.