Treve primed for victory in Princess of Wales’s Stakes

French raider Treve looks a worthy odds-on shot to get back to winning ways in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot today (3.45).

The Criquette Head-Maarek trained filly was unbeaten in four starts last season, culminating in a stunning display in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when producing a scintillating turn of foot to slam Orfevre by five lengths.

The daughter of Motivator then lost her unbeaten record on seasonal reappearance in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp in April when going down by a short-neck to Cirrus Des Aigles.

Treve looked in need of the run that day, and lost little in defeat to a race-fit rival who has since gone on to land the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan and the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom.

That form, along with Treve’s win in the Arc, is head and shoulders above what any of her rivals has achieved.

The four-year-old is officially rated 130, 7lbs and upwards clear of today’s opposition, and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle is impossible to oppose.

Treve’s main rival according to the betting is the Aidan O’Brien trained Magician.

The son of Galileo improved throughout last season, winning the Dee Stakes at Chester in runaway style before landing the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas by 3 1/2 lengths.

Magician went on to show a devastating turn of foot when winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in Santa Anita, and was far from disgraced on his first start this year when a 2 3/4 length fifth of 15 to Gentildonna in the Dubai Sheema Classic in Meydan.

The four-year-old then got back on the winning trail in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes,before getting turned over at odds-on by Noble Mission in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Connections blamed the testing conditions for defeat in the latter, but it was still a disappointing effort and Magician will need to step up significantly to lower the colours of Treve.

Others capable of playing a part at Mukhadram and The Fugue.

The former was narrowly denied in last year’s renewal by Al Kazeem, and finished an excellent second in the Dubai World Cup when last seen in action back in March.

The John Gosden trained The Fugue is very talented when on-song, but has often failed to deliver the goods when expected and could finish only third in this last year.