A weekend for the Comeback King (and Queen!)

Wow. What a week of racing we have had the pleasure of seeing this weekend. And lets start with what will have been the undoubted highlight for many, and one where we saw one of the best training performances arguably ever from Criquette Head-Maarek, with the triumph of Treve in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. I certainly did not think I'd be writing that when I looked ahead to this weekend on Friday evening anyway as Treve had been well below par since winning the Arc this time last year in sensational fashion. Frankie Dettori had been jocked off and we were hearing stories of how our defending champion was suffering from foot and back issues, hardly stuff you want to hear if you are backing a horse in Europe's Premier Middle Distance Flat race. However none of this seemed to matter on the day as Thierry Jarnet accelerated away from the field to become the first back to back winner of the race since Alleged some 36 years ago, leaving Flintshire, pre-race favourite Taghrooda and Kingston Hill in her wake. Fabulous. Not so fabulous were the rides given to the Japanese horses, especially Harp Star who was dropped out rear as if he were in the Grand National! Both he and Just a Way fly home but Treve had long since gone, you can see the race for yourself below anyhow.

It was declared after the race that the filly is to be retired and Treve is bowing out on top after her stunning win, what a way to go. Any trainer in the land will have to go a long long way to match the training feat of Criquette Head-Maarek as well. As mentioned previously Treve had, prior to 3.30pm on the 5th October, been very disappointing for many this season with below par performances at both this track and Ascot. Voices were heard; "The allowances in her 3 year old year were huge, it will be too much for her without those", "She's had too many physical issues", "She just isn't the same horse as 2013". But who were we to doubt the genius of her French trainer to produce her on the day in shape to retain her crown. Simply marvellous and this is an Arc that will live long in the memory, not just for Treve's back to back victories but for the training feat of Criquette Head-Maarek to produce her in shape to do herself justice.

My other absolutely stunning moment of Arc Sunday was seeing Frankie Dettori delivery Olympic Glory with an absolutely astonishing late run to grab glory in the Prix de la Foret. For 6 furlongs of this 7 furlong trip you could have got any price you wanted on Richard Hannon's 4 year old taking victory in this group 1 race, however Dettori conjured a miracle from his locker to deliver Olympic Glory to victory and he actually won going away. It really does require you see a replay of the race a few times before you actually believe Frankie gets this one up!

The Arc came the day after we saw one time Champion Chaser Sizing Europe return to the track under new jockey Johnny Burke and this was another great moment for people who hold the admirable chaser in high regard, and there are a fair few of those. Henry de Bromhead set the training performance stakes fairly high on Saturday as he produced the old boy to win the PWC Champion Chase for the fourth year in a row - perhaps this was the weekend for back to back victories! At 12 years of age Sizing Europe is certainly no spring chicken but it was great to see him winning agin here and it got the juices flowing nicely for jumps racing as we start to see the familiar Cheltenham names returning to the track. I'm not sure if Sizing Europe will make it back to the home of jump racing again this year but we will get to see him soon in the Clonmel Oil Chase, where we will hopefully see another good showing from the veteran of the 2 mile Chasing scene.

There were too many other fantastic performances this weekend for me to mention them all here, I've just picked my favourite three that I'll take out of a great couple of days of Horse Racing, days that make you remember why we love the game so much! Limato was visually one of the most impressive winners of the weekend with his on-the-bridle, laughing at the opposition success at Redcar in the Two-year-old trophy and is certainly one to bear in mind through the winter months, If Henry Candy can get him to train on he will be excellent ammunition for the trainer to release in the 2015 flat racing season as he destroyed the field of this listed contest without Graham Lee even having to ask him the easiest of questions. Integral was given a great enterprising ride by Ryan Moore to take victory in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket, getting to the front early and never looking back while Pether's Moon beat off Enke and Parish Hall to take the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at a wet and windy Ascot, hardly typical flat racing weather (or at least not this summer!) It really has been a great weekend and one that all involved, independant of code of racing, can look back on with fond memories.

Once again thanks very much for reading!