Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe Preview

Treve has already earned a reputation as one of the truly outstanding fillies of the last 50 years, but victory in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp would see her challenging for the title of 'The Greatest.'

To win an Arc is a wonderful achievement; to win two simply remarkable. But three? That is bordering on impossible, and good reason why in the 95-year history of the great race, no horse has ever done it. Treve bids to become the first.

Many factors come into play here. It takes one with brilliant ability to stay at the top for three seasons. But in the modern era, there has also been a commercial element that inevitably persuaded owners that a career at stud for their horse was almost certainly more lucrative than another year on the racecourse.

For a male, that is a certainty. For a female, particularly in the case of a rare talent such as Treve, it is debatable. She can only have one foal a year as a broodmare, but if she wins an Arc, that is another US$3.5m in the pocket of her owner. Great, for one afternoon's work.

Godolphin are represented by Manatee, who has drawn the inside, stall No 1. He is a lovely horse, who trainer Andre Fabre thinks very highly of, and he has a decent chance of earning a place.

But this could rank as a vintage renewal of the Arc, as not only is Treve heading the line-up, there is also Golden Horn, the Epsom Derby winner, who has been supplemented, as well as New Bay, winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club and one of the rising stars of European racing.

Golden Horn, a son of the Darley stallion Cape Cross, can boast an impressive record already. The Derby, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes are a trio of Group Ones that have already established his status as a most attractive potential stallion.

Those travelling to Longchamp, believing this to be a Treve-Golden Horn head-to-head are mistaken, in my opinion.

New Bay, a son of celebrated Darley stallion Dubawi, proved his brilliance when coming from a near-impossible position to land the Prix du Jockey-Club in June. He has run twice since, for victories in a minor race at Deauville and the Prix Niel, one of the Arc 'trials,' three weeks ago.

Fabre has already spoken of his high hopes for the colt. His stablemate Flintshire, fresh from a win at Saratoga on quick ground, is going to appreciate going that is unseasonably 'lively' for Arc day.

Found, the Ballydoyle filly, who finished a battling second in the Irish Champion Stakes, is another with worthy claims, as too has Free Eagle, the Dermot Weld-trained colt who met with interference at Leopardstown last start.

Godolphin have a very strong hand numerically in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, with Jim Bolger bringing over Herald The Dawn from Ireland, to join fellow raider John Gosden with Cymric, as they line up against home-nurtured talent, the Andre Fabre-trained Ultra.

All three Godolphin two-year-olds have shown plenty of ability. Herald The Dawn is the best-performed so far, having won the G2 Futurity Stakes before finishing second in the G1 National Stakes, both at the Curragh.

Cymric has won two of his four starts, including a small race at Sandown, and Ultra is unbeaten after two starts, the most recent being a Longchamp conditions race over one mile.

Godolphin runner Toormore is one to watch out for on the 'under card' in the Prix de la Foret.