Orfevre, Treve burnish Arc credentials

"I had a very good trip," Soumillon said, "but the leader didn't take me far enough and I

was forced to go too early. He quickened well and when he is in that state of mind, I

think he is almost unbeatable."

Very Nice Name finished second, Pirika was third, and Australia-bound Dunaden

eighth of nine.

Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier's Camelot was given a racecourse

gallop after racing at the Curragh. Last year's Two Thousand Guineas and English

and Irish Derby hero was set to make his return after a three-month break in the

12-furlong Arc trial, but conditions were deemed too soft and he was re-routed

to Kildare instead.

Trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time, the Prix de Diane heroine Treve showed that the Arc trip holds no fears with a smooth

success in the Prix Vermeille. Off since that June 16 Chantilly classic, Sheikh Joaan bin

Hamad al Thani's acquisition was anchored toward the rear by Frankie Dettori

early and had traffic to deal with as Wild Coco glided to the front at the top of

the stretch. Handing that rival three lengths at the quarter-pole, the 4-5 favorite cut her down

under hand riding with 150 meters remaining en route to a decisive 1 3/4-length score.

"She

is a fantastic filly," trainer Criquette Head-Maarek commented. "I don't have many in training with

that kind of class. I was not scared when she was on the inside with nowhere to go, as I

knew she is capable of quickening like she did. All being well, she will be supplemented for

the Arc."

Starting out over a mile, Treve showed glimpses of

what was to come with fluent successes in conditions events at Longchamp in September and at Saint-Cloud May 15,

but the emphatic nature of her Prix de Diane triumph took many by surprise. Breaking the track record by

two seconds there, the form was given ballast when the four-lengths runner-up Chicquita

went on to take the Irish Oaks, and only the trip was a concern entering this competitive affair.

Keen early

positioned on the rail as she had been at Chantilly, the bay was always traveling strongly, but Tom Queally had taken the

initiative on Wild Coco after the final turn and she had abundant ground to make up on that strong-staying mare. As

soon as she was into daylight halfway down the stretch, she was able to reel in that rival in a matter of

strides without feeling the whip to record a faster time than the two Arc trials on the card.

"That was so exciting,"

Sheikh Joaan commented. "To own such a filly is great, and I hope she is able to do as well

in the Arc."

Breeder Alec Head was also on hand to relish the victory.

"This is a really sweet victory," he said.

"She has a tremendous turn of foot, but I was a little bit anxious when she was blocked in. When she came through, she

gave a great impression."

Dettori, who was riding his first Group 1 winner since parting ways with Godolphin

and being sidelined by a six month suspension, told PA Sport, "She's the first decent horse I've ridden for a

while. The Arc will be a different type of race, so I just hope I'm drawn on the fence so I can get some cover. It was

always the plan to ride her like that, as I knew she had a great turn of foot."

Lady Cecil was delighted with the

performance of Wild Coco and told the Racing Post, "She was 3 1/2 lengths in front of the rest, she

loved it round here and she loved the ground. We'll have to talk to the owners and see where we go next."

Kizuna, appearing for the first time since winning the May 26

Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), prevailed in a tight finish to this Arc trial to advertise

his claims for the main event in three weeks' time. Settled in rear early by Yutaka Take,

the 7-1 shot traveled smoothly at the top of the stretch and was the last to be asked the

question with 300 meters remaining.

With the favorite Flintshire unable to pick up in the rain-softened ground, it was his stable companion Ocovango who

struck the front against the rail, but his lead was short-lived as Kizuna rolled past

inside the final 50 meters. Ruler of the World was finishing off strongest under Ryan Moore, and

at the end it looked as if he had found the line in time, but the photo showed that the

Japanese representative had his nose ahead.

This was the first time that Kizuna had been asked to race on soft

ground, with his major wins, which include the March 23 Mainichi Hai at Hanshin and May 4 Kyoto Shimbun Hai,

staged on a firm surface.

"Today was really a rehearsal for us, as this is a totally new experience for

me and the horse," trainer Shozo Sasaki commented. "Everything went well -- he had the perfect trip and he

showed the same late kick that he does back home, so this is a great day for us.

"I am certain that he is only around

80 percent today and not yet at his peak, so we will do everything we can in the next three weeks to get him to his

best. I didn't hesitate in bringing a three-year-old here, as the weights in the Arc favor them, and he has a lovely

temperament and traveling is not a problem for him."

Khalid Abdullah's Flintshire had been at the top of the ante-post

lists for the Arc since his win in the Grand Prix de Paris July 13, but the fast ground he

enjoyed on that occasion has disappeared, and he may miss the main event if the surface is not in his favor.

"He

doesn't like soft ground and can't quicken on it," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said. "He

has run a good race, but we'll have to see what the weather is like in the days leading up to the Arc and make

a decision then, as it is essential that he has good ground."

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