Treve will go for an Arc three-peat - By Tom Krish
Posted on - 14 Oct 2014
Treve will go for an Arc three-peat
By Tom Krish
Mr Dhariwal’s passing saddened me beyond words. I remember his early days in Chennai. He was a sought-after rider and at that time Chennai was a competitive center. It was in 1975 that I moved to America and we lost touch. There was no internet. The past ten years, I have followed Mr Dhariwal’s training career and his list of accomplishments is long and impressive. Our last meeting was in late March this year. As short as our chats were, they were heart-warming and cordial. I will miss him.
Treve, a three year-old filly by Motivator out of Trevise, took an unbeaten record to the Arc in October 2013. A pupil of Criquette Head Marek, Treve should have been Frankie Dettori’s mount in the Longchamp showpiece. Sheikh Joann (Qatar) had bought Treve after her ‘walk in the park’ in the Prix Diane (French Oaks) and Dettori was the Sheikh’s stable jockey. A foot injury suffered in a British race stopped the Italian maestro from riding Treve. Thierry Jarnet, a battle-scarred French veteran, replaced Frankie Dettori. The daughter of Motivator made mincemeat of her rivals. She won by five lengths.
In three starts in 2014, Treve disappointed. She was beaten in the Prince of Wales at Royal Ascot. In two other outings including an Arc prep, she ran listlessly. It was revealed that Treve was suffering from hoof and back problems. Trainer Criquette Head Marek remained optimistic. Treve was again entrusted to jockey Jarnet in the Arc De Triomphe. Saving ground and travelling menacingly well, Treve, when let loose in the stretch, bounded away. In 1977 and 1978, Alleged, another filly, had won the Arc.
The announcement was made Treve would be retired. It was also mentioned that Treve’s first date would be with Dubawi. We have seen Michael Jordan retire and come back and win National Basketball titles for the Chicago Bulls. Then, there is jockey Gary Stevens, who came out of retirement, to win the 2013 Preakness, the 2013 Breeders’ Distaff and the 2013 Breeders’ Classic. Stevens, at the moment, is recovering from an injury. Treve will, therefore, be going for a hat trick in the Arc De Triomphe. She is a 5/1 chance to accomplish that feat.
Cigar is no more. Winner of 16 consecutive races, Cigar, a Bill Mott trainee, won the first running of the Dubai World Cup in March 1996. I watched the simulcast of that race at Maywood Park, a track in suburban Chicago.
Arlington Park came up with an ‘Invitational’ race to honor. Cigar and jockey Jerry Bailey did not disappoint the fans. I was in New York in August 1996 to meet Peter Jennings, the legendary news anchor for ABC. I remember Peter asking me if Cigar would make it 17 in a row. I believe it was a Thursday and on Sunday, Cigar was running in Del Mar’s Pacific Classic. I told Peter that it did not make sense to oppose Cigar. A victory for Cigar was taken for granted. The fractions were very quick and jockey Bailey, throwing conservatism out the window, chased the speed. Cigar hit the front and it seemed all over. Not yet as Dare And Go, Alex Solis, found fresh legs. Dare And Go edged ahead of the leg-weary Cigar late in the stretch.
Cigar won over nine million dollars. He was 24 when he died last week. It was September 2008 and I was at Ascot for the Q E II Stakes. Jerry Bailey was there promoting the Breeders’ Cup. He was able to give about ten minutes of his time. It was a Saturday and Curlin was racing in New York and was on the brink of passing Cigar’s earnings. “Records are meant to be broken. I believe Curlin will do it today,” Bailey said. When asked to compare Cigar and Curlin, Bailey would only say that horses of two periods cannot be compared.
A great partnership has come to an end. Olivier Peslier cannot be a stranger to racing fans in India. He plied his trade in Mumbai last year. One of France’s greatest riders, Olivier has been riding for the Wertheimer Brothers for the past 12 years. The Wertheimers control the luxury product division of Chanel, a name widely recognized in the perfume business. It has been announced that Olivier will not ride for the Wertheimers beginning next year.
Reports suggest that it was an amicable parting. May I say that all good things must come to an end? Olivier rode Goldikova to three consecutive Breeders’ Cup victories. He won the 2012 Arc De Triomphe for the Wertheimers with Solemia. It was a ride that had to be seen to be believed. Intello and jockey Peslier crossed the line first in the 2013 French Derby for the Wertheimer Brothers. I have followed Olivier in several parts of the world and his sense of pace is second to none.
I have the greatest respect for Olivier. He is a close friend. I am looking forward to seeing him at Santa Anita over the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting.
Australia has been retired. By Galileo out of Ouija Board, Australia won the English Derby at Epsom and won the Irish version at the Curragh. Australia made it three in a row in York’s Juddmonte International. However, in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, The Grey Gatsby got the better of the Aidan O’Brien pupil in the waning yards. The Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 18 was Australia’s target. An injury has now forced the connections to retire the three year-old from racing. Joseph O’Brien was Australia’s regular rider.
It has been raining heavily in Berkshire where Ascot Racecourse is located. The Gray Gatsby has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Champion Stakes. With the non-participation of Australia and The Grey Gatsby, Cirrus des Aigles who excels in soft going, has become the market leader in the Champion Stakes betting.
Wise Dan, a seven year-old and the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile in 2012 and 2013, was favored to win the race one more time. A bone fracture has put Wise Dan on the sidelines. Wise Dan won the recent Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland to punch his ticket for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile. It is a big void. In 2012, John Velasquez was the rider. An accident in an earlier race took John out for the rest of the day in 2013. Jose Lezcano substituted and got the job done.
Two of Dr Cyrus Poonawalla’s horses raced at Longchamp over the Arc weekend. Kenhope and Christophe Lemaire were fourth in a Group race. On Arc day, Gordon Lord Byron and Wayne Lordan were second to Olympic Glory and Frankie Dettori in the Prix de la Foret. Gordon Lord Byron has been second in his last two tries in two Group I contests.
