Treve's already perilous grip on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favouritism was firmly loosened at Longchamp as Criquette Head-Maarek's star could finish only fourth in the Prix Vermeille.

On an Arc trials day full of surprises, last year's Arc heroine was reunited with Thierry Jarnet for a prep race she won 12 months ago under Frankie Dettori, and travelled well enough at the rear of the field in the reasonably quick conditions for much of the way.

The four-year-old made progress wide into the straight, from where she held every chance.

William Buick, meanwhile, was still at the head of affairs on Pomology, as he had been from an early stage, and although Treve did make some ground to the furlong and a half point she was not given an overly hard time when her chance had gone.

Andre Fabre's Baltic Baroness sneaked up the rail and just came out on top from Pomology after quite a battle through the final furlong, and could be supplemented for the Arc.

Treve was eased with all the bookmakers for a repeat Arc success, with Taghrooda, Just A Way, Avenir Certain and Ectot all vying for market leadership.

Head-Maarek said: "The filly had a few problems and it might be that she is not the same filly as she was last year.

"She made a good effort, she gave weight away and finished not too far back and you have to remember that after the race in England (Prince of Wales's Stakes) she was literally stopped for a whole month (with a muscle problem), she was being walked.

"Personally I would like to see her in the Arc and I will do everything I can so she can be at the start of the Arc. I am hoping the ground will be a little bit softer.

"The decision shouldn't be made hastily, you have to see her again after the race.

"There might be some fine-tuning that can be done and she would be much better suited to it being softer."

Al Shaqab Racing supremo Sheikh Joaan Al Thani confirmed the intention remained to run Treve in the Arc.

He said: "Treve has proved that she is a great filly, she has nothing to prove.

" She is still staying in the Arc, nothing is going to change.

"She is a great filly, she won her Arc so I don't think there is a point in being disappointed."