Treve strengthens status as Arc favorite

Treve was the future-book favorite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October before Sunday’s $448,000 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. After she won the Group 1 race over a strong field, she became a standout favorite.

Ridden by Thierry Jarnet, Treve rallied from fourth in a field of nine to win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at 1 1/2 miles by 1 1/4 lengths over Flintshire, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November. Sent off at 3-5, Treve took the lead in the final furlong.

Flintshire, who was third in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs in England on June 6, finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Dolniya, the winner of the $6 million Sheema Classic in Dubai in March.

After the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, British bookmakers made Treve the 2-1 favorite to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for an unprecedented third year. Seven horses have won the race twice. Golden Horn, the winner of the English Derby on June 6, is the 5-1 second choice with the British bookmaker Coral for the Arc de Triomphe.

Treve won her third consecutive stakes in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The streak began with a win in the 2014 Arc de Triomphe and resumed this year with a win in the Group 2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud on May 29.

A 5-year-old mare by Motivator, Treve has won 8 of 11 starts for Al Shaqab Racing and trainer Criquette Maarek-Head. The mare is expected to have the summer off and will be pointed for the $392,000 Prix Vermeille, a Group 1 at 1 1/2 miles on turf for fillies and mares at Longchamp racecourse on Sept. 13. The $5.6 million Arc de Triomphe is at Longchamp on Oct. 4.

Ireland: Diamondsandrubies upsets Pretty Polly Stakes

Diamondsandrubies won the biggest race of her career with an upset victory in Sunday’s $280,000 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at The Curragh in Ireland.

Ridden by Seamie Heffernan for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Diamondsandrubies (8-1) led throughout the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, beating 3-2 favorite Legatissimo by a short head. Ribbons, an 8-1 shot, closed from the back of the field to finish third.

Diamondsandrubies won the minor Cheshire Oaks at Chester Racecourse in England in May, but was fourth behind Qualify in the Group 1 English Oaks on June 5. By Fastnet Rock, Diamondsandrubies races for Roison Henry and Sue Magnier. The filly has won 3 of 6 starts, including a maiden race at Tipperary in April in her first start of 2015.