For Treve Fans!
Jan 8, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Jan 8, 2014 22:57:10 GMT -5
I agree with the German fan!
Treve
By Dan Illman
DRF
A few hours after Mucho Macho Man crossed the finish line in the Breeders' Cup Classic, I stood in a hotel elevator with a racing fan from Germany, a pair of Irish racing reporters and a Japanese photographer.
The Irishmen, giddy about the performance of the European runners, gushed with praise for Magician, who had rallied stoutly under Ryan Moore to deny The Fugue a trip to the Breeders' Cup Turf winner's circle.
"Magician was good," said the German fan. "But, you know, Treve would have beaten him by ten lengths."
Taken aback, the Irish writers composed themselves and began to laugh. "That's asinine," one remarked. "Didn't you see how sensational Magician was this afternoon?"
"Didn't you see how sensational Treve was in the Arc?" The German fan retorted.
Exasperated, the Irish reporters looked around the elevator for help. The Japanese photographer stared at his shoes. I focused on the elevator numbers, moving ever - so - slowly.
"You," one of the reporters pointed at me. "What do you think?"
DING.
My floor.
On the way out, I stopped, turned and answered. "Ten lengths is certainly ridiculous." The reporters nodded at each other, convinced that their position was validated.
"Five seems more likely." Addressing the photographer, I concluded with "Oh, and Orfevre would have won by two-and-a-half."
Once upon a dream, these discussions were restricted to once-smokey racetracks and simulcast parlors, once-smokey bars, and glacial elevators.
Thanks to the internet, they rage constantly, usually peaking at this time of year with the announcement of the Eclipse Award finalists.
I voted WISE DAN as the 2013 Eclipse Award winner for Horse of the Year.
But he wasn't the best thoroughbred I saw over the past 12 months.
Undefeated from four starts at distances ranging from 1 Mile to 12 furlongs over both firm and soft turf, TREVE, a 3-year-old filly, dominated her competition at every turn.
In her seasonal debut, the Prix Perruche Bleue at Saint-Cloud on May 15, she broke slowly before settling into third place as the field maneuvered single file through the opening quarter mile. With 2 1/2 furlongs remaining, Thierry Jarnet eased Treve outside and the duo overwhelmed the leaders to win in a gallop.
The following month, at Chantilly, Treve was dismissed at 8-1 for her first start against stakes horses in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at 1 5/16ths. Jarnet kept the daughter of Motivator along the inner rail at the back of the field for the first nine furlongs. At the 400m mark, Treve exploded to the lead from between horses and the outcome was never in doubt. Treve's official winning margin was four lengths and she received a 120 Racing Post Rating.
Treve was purchased privately prior to her next race, the Group 1 Prix Vermeille against older fillies and mares over 12 furlongs at Longchamp on September 15. Ridden this time by Frankie Dettori, Treve saved ground behind a slow pace and was blocked with a little more than two furlongs remaining. At this juncture, Dettori found a gap and Treve burst through. She attacked the pacesetter with a furlong left and drove by to win by almost two lengths.
Then, the Arc.
Facing mostly older males, Treve broke from post 15 in the 17-horse Arc, and Jarnet (subbing for an injured Dettori) had difficulty finding cover for his filly. They were hung outside and Treve seemed anxious to go. Gradually, they crept up to the leading group and Treve took over under a hand ride with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining. Jarnet pushed the button with 400m to race, the acceleration was instantaneous and the race was over. Treve's five-length win was good enough for a whopping 131 Racing Post Rating.
As for the mercurial ORFEVRE, he was no match for Treve in the Arc. It was the second consecutive year he finished second in Europe's biggest race and he was beaten a dirty nose by Gentildonna in the 2012 Japan Cup. He concluded his racing career in style, however, taking the Group 1 Arima Kinen by eight widening lengths at Nakayama on December 22. The Japanese Triple Crown winner of 2011, Orfevre won the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at four, the same season he was pipped in both the Arc and Japan Cup. In 2013, he won three of four races, including the Group 2 Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 15.
The Arima Kinen is a fascinating race in which ten of the runners are selected by fan vote. The remaining entrants are decided by career earnings. Orfevre won the fan vote in 2012, but didn't participate in the Arima Kinen after a grueling campaign. This year, he received 81,198 votes and became the first vote-winner to score in the race since Deep Impact (119,940 votes) in 2006.
About half of the 120,000 fans in attendance stayed around after the races for Orfevre's official retirement ceremony as a way to show their respect and admiration for the champion. He certainly had a stellar career.
But he was no Treve.
Treve
By Dan Illman
DRF
A few hours after Mucho Macho Man crossed the finish line in the Breeders' Cup Classic, I stood in a hotel elevator with a racing fan from Germany, a pair of Irish racing reporters and a Japanese photographer.
The Irishmen, giddy about the performance of the European runners, gushed with praise for Magician, who had rallied stoutly under Ryan Moore to deny The Fugue a trip to the Breeders' Cup Turf winner's circle.
"Magician was good," said the German fan. "But, you know, Treve would have beaten him by ten lengths."
Taken aback, the Irish writers composed themselves and began to laugh. "That's asinine," one remarked. "Didn't you see how sensational Magician was this afternoon?"
"Didn't you see how sensational Treve was in the Arc?" The German fan retorted.
Exasperated, the Irish reporters looked around the elevator for help. The Japanese photographer stared at his shoes. I focused on the elevator numbers, moving ever - so - slowly.
"You," one of the reporters pointed at me. "What do you think?"
DING.
My floor.
On the way out, I stopped, turned and answered. "Ten lengths is certainly ridiculous." The reporters nodded at each other, convinced that their position was validated.
"Five seems more likely." Addressing the photographer, I concluded with "Oh, and Orfevre would have won by two-and-a-half."
Once upon a dream, these discussions were restricted to once-smokey racetracks and simulcast parlors, once-smokey bars, and glacial elevators.
Thanks to the internet, they rage constantly, usually peaking at this time of year with the announcement of the Eclipse Award finalists.
I voted WISE DAN as the 2013 Eclipse Award winner for Horse of the Year.
But he wasn't the best thoroughbred I saw over the past 12 months.
Undefeated from four starts at distances ranging from 1 Mile to 12 furlongs over both firm and soft turf, TREVE, a 3-year-old filly, dominated her competition at every turn.
In her seasonal debut, the Prix Perruche Bleue at Saint-Cloud on May 15, she broke slowly before settling into third place as the field maneuvered single file through the opening quarter mile. With 2 1/2 furlongs remaining, Thierry Jarnet eased Treve outside and the duo overwhelmed the leaders to win in a gallop.
The following month, at Chantilly, Treve was dismissed at 8-1 for her first start against stakes horses in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at 1 5/16ths. Jarnet kept the daughter of Motivator along the inner rail at the back of the field for the first nine furlongs. At the 400m mark, Treve exploded to the lead from between horses and the outcome was never in doubt. Treve's official winning margin was four lengths and she received a 120 Racing Post Rating.
Treve was purchased privately prior to her next race, the Group 1 Prix Vermeille against older fillies and mares over 12 furlongs at Longchamp on September 15. Ridden this time by Frankie Dettori, Treve saved ground behind a slow pace and was blocked with a little more than two furlongs remaining. At this juncture, Dettori found a gap and Treve burst through. She attacked the pacesetter with a furlong left and drove by to win by almost two lengths.
Then, the Arc.
Facing mostly older males, Treve broke from post 15 in the 17-horse Arc, and Jarnet (subbing for an injured Dettori) had difficulty finding cover for his filly. They were hung outside and Treve seemed anxious to go. Gradually, they crept up to the leading group and Treve took over under a hand ride with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining. Jarnet pushed the button with 400m to race, the acceleration was instantaneous and the race was over. Treve's five-length win was good enough for a whopping 131 Racing Post Rating.
As for the mercurial ORFEVRE, he was no match for Treve in the Arc. It was the second consecutive year he finished second in Europe's biggest race and he was beaten a dirty nose by Gentildonna in the 2012 Japan Cup. He concluded his racing career in style, however, taking the Group 1 Arima Kinen by eight widening lengths at Nakayama on December 22. The Japanese Triple Crown winner of 2011, Orfevre won the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at four, the same season he was pipped in both the Arc and Japan Cup. In 2013, he won three of four races, including the Group 2 Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 15.
The Arima Kinen is a fascinating race in which ten of the runners are selected by fan vote. The remaining entrants are decided by career earnings. Orfevre won the fan vote in 2012, but didn't participate in the Arima Kinen after a grueling campaign. This year, he received 81,198 votes and became the first vote-winner to score in the race since Deep Impact (119,940 votes) in 2006.
About half of the 120,000 fans in attendance stayed around after the races for Orfevre's official retirement ceremony as a way to show their respect and admiration for the champion. He certainly had a stellar career.
But he was no Treve.
