Treve will sensationally stay in training next season to aim for an unprecedented third victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Criquette Head-Maarek's outstanding filly had been set to retire to become a broodmare after she brilliantly claimed a second consecutive Arc last Sunday.

But the four-year-old's owner, Sheikh Joaan Al Thani, has undergone a dramatic volte-face, with Treve to continue racing in 2015 with a view to a historic tilt at winning Europe's premier race for a third time.

Harry Herbert, racing manager for the Sheikh's Al Shaqab Racing operation, told Press Association Sport: "The Sheikh will keep Treve in training next year to try to go for a third Arc.

"She has come out of the race brilliantly. She is moving great, kicking and bucking and looking really well.

"Initially, we thought the Arc would have drawn her career to a close, and maybe she would go to see Dubawi (at stud).

"But, on reflection, and following discussions with the Sheikh and Criquette, we are all keen to carry on, so long as the filly herself is absolutely fine."

Treve will not run again this season and will spend the winter at the Head family's stud, Haras du Quesnay, in Normandy.

The daughter of Motivator will then head back to her Chantilly stables in February, with a view to returning to the track early next summer.

Herbert went on: "Her wellbeing is of paramount importance to all of us, everything will be in the best interests of the filly. She will have a very limited five-year-old year, trained specifically for the Arc.

"She will first go to Quesnay in November until February 14, when she will head back into training with Criquette. She will probably not run until June or July time, but only on suitable ground.

"If it doesn't work, then obviously we will draw stumps and she will have missed one year of breeding. But she is a remarkable mare, and the Sheikh likes the fact that racing fans worldwide can enjoy her for another year.

"To get an unprecedented Arc treble up, this is a chance to do something that has not happened before."

Treve won the Arc by five lengths two years ago, but she had endured a largely difficult summer campaign as a four-year-old.

An injury sustained at Royal Ascot, compounded by a subdued display upon her return to the fray in the Prix Vermeille in September, saw her sent off at odds of 11-1 last Sunday.

Head-Maarek had, however, been adamant the filly was back to her best for the Arc and she duly vindicated her trainer's ebullience with a two-length defeat of Flintshire under Thierry Jarnet.

In doing so, Treve became the first horse since Alleged in 1978 to win consecutive renewals of the richest Flat race in Europe.