Champion filly Treve has delighted her trainer Criquette Head-Maarek ahead of her eagerly anticipated return to action in the Prix Ganay.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner was the world’s equal top rated horse of 2013 alongside Australian champion Black Caviar.
She stretched her unbeaten record to five with a mesmerising display in Europe’s premier middle-distance race in Paris in October with Thierry Jarnet standing in for the sidelined Frankie Dettori.
The retained rider for owner Sheikh Joaan Al Thani, Dettori partnered Treve in her first serious workout of 2014 at Head-Maarek’s Chantilly base last week.
“She started work last Tuesday. Frankie came and rode her and I think he was very pleased,” Head-Maarek said.
“She’s wintered well. She put a lot of weight on and is much stronger physically.
“I’m not saying she is better than she was last year, we will have to wait and see, but certainly she looks bigger and stronger.”
Assuming Treve comes home from her Longchamp comeback on April 27 unscathed, Head-Maarek could then prepare her for a trip to Royal Ascot.
“If all goes well she will hopefully start off in the Prix Ganay and after that the options are the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud or bring her to England for Royal Ascot, but let’s take it one step at a time,” she said.
“When horses are going from three to four, you never know what they are capable of doing.
“Some horses go on, some don’t like it any more.
“I don’t think that is the case with her as she is working well and everything is good, but you never really know until they race again.
“Our main target for the year is of course the Arc, but that is a long, long way ahead.”
