Four-year-old filly Treve defied her critics and the starting odds to secure back to back wins in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps Sunday . Given the perfect ride by jockey Thierry Jarnet , 11-1 shot Treve stormed to the front in the final furlong to win from Flintshire and favored English filly Taghrooda . Unbeatable as a three-year-old , Treve had been winless after being kept in training , until giving a timely reminder of the old sporting adage that form is temporary , class is permanent . It was a fairytale victory for her trainer Criquette Head-Maarek , who has twice beaten life-threatening illnesses , and knew her horse had similar fighting qualities . She controversially took the decision to take famous jockey Frankie Dettori off the filly , replacing him with Jarnet , who rode Treve to the 2013 success and was winning his fourth Arc . `` This is a great personal satisfaction for me , '' said the 66-year-old from the famous Head racing dynasty , who have secured a string of Arc victories over the years as jockeys and trainers . Her grandfather William Head and father Alec trained two and four Arc winners respectively , while brother Freddie won three as a jockey . Head-Maarek has now trained three winners , the first back in 1979 before Treve 's double triumph , but she believes this is her greatest achievement . `` It is the best race I have ever won with all the problems with her back and hoof and criticism aimed at her . This is brilliant , I 'm not yet back down to earth yet ! It is my best day , '' she added . Treve is only the seventh horse to win successive Arcs and the first since the Vincent O'Brien-trained Alleged was ridden to a 1978 success by legendary English jockey Lester Piggott . Andre Fabre 's Flintshire rode a strong race , ahead of Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda and St. Leger winner Kingston Hill . But the three-pronged Japanese challenge never materialized with Harp Star the best finisher in sixth place . The autumn showdown in Paris has the richest prize purse in the sport of flat racing at $ 5 million and attracts the leading Thoroughbred horses in the world to the French capital .
French - trained Treve wins Prix de l'Arc de Paris . First horse in 20 years to win back to back Arcs . 11 - 1 shot , gets perfect ride by jockey Tony Jarnet . Japanese sponsor never materializes .