Treve became the first horse since Alleged in 1977/78 to win Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in successive years as she stormed home at Longchamp on Sunday.
Treve — giving jockey Thierry Jarnet his fourth win in the race — came home ahead of Flintshire while English filly Taghrooda was third.
Treve, owned by Sheikh Joaan al-Thani of Qatar, had failed to win all season casting doubts on her ability to win, but her trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, who controversially took Frankie Dettori off the filly, insisted she could still win.
“This is a great personal satisfaction for me, this is truly wonderful!” said the tearful 65-year-old.
“I couldn’t believe the gap that opened for her on the rails and then her burst of acceleration was extraordinary.
“This has been the most complicated preparation I have ever had for this race,” added Head-Maarek, who also won her war of words with Dettori as he had said Treve was gone mentally — something she had hotly denied.
Treve is only the sixth horse to win successive Arcs and first filly since Corrida in 1937 to achieve the feat.
Sheikh Joaan said it had been a joy to watch.
“We have proved people wrong, what a racehorse. Now she can retire to the farm!” he said.
Jarnet was in tears as he was led back to the winners enclosure.
“This is magic, magic. What a filly. This is what one gets up for early in the mornings and ride the champions on the gallops to then have days like these,” said the 37-year-old.
The Japanese dream of winning the race they regard as the greatest in the world once again was dashed as both Harp Star and Gold Ship were left with far too much to do and their late runs yielded little.
Just A Way was prominent in the straight but failed to stay the 1 1/2miles (2400m) and faded from the fray as proven stayers Taghrooda and Flintshire came through, with the latter getting the better of the filly to take second for seven-time winning trainer Andre Fabre.
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