Remember me? Qous a first runner for dual Arc heroine Treve at Chantilly

In February 2017 an 11-second piece of video of Treve with her firstborn was watched more than 60,000 times on Al Shaqab's Twitter feed alone, as well as being shared by countless racing media outlets around the world.

A colt by superstar sire Dubawi, it has been a long wait for the huge number of fans who followed Treve's racing career through two glorious triumphs in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and her failed but still historic third attempt.

Now Qous – pronounced Koos – makes his first start in a three-year-old maiden (12.20) over a mile and a quarter at Chantilly for Al Shaqab and trainer Andre Fabre.

Thierry Jarnet returns on Treve after their second victory in the Arc at Longchamp in 2014Credit: Edward Whitaker

Vincent Cheminaud and Qous have been drawn 13 of 14 in the Prix Soleil and, while there is understandable expectancy among Sheikh Joaan and his team, there is also the realisation that Treve is a near-impossible act to follow.

"Everyone is excited to see her first runner on the track," said Al Shaqab representive Rupert Pritchard Gordon. "Excited but also realistic. Andre has said that we will learn more after tomorrow and again the following time. He's that sort of horse.

"He is doing everything right but we haven't rushed him. He has a nice attitude and it's a good starting place over a trip that should suit him on a nice galloping track. We think he's a horse that will improve with racing."

Treve was herself quite slow to reach the racecourse, winning her sole start in the October of her two-year-old career before just one prep win in May 2013 ahead of her extraordinary five-length romp in the Prix de Diane.

From there her story became one which enraptured racing fans far and wide, while Criquette Head earned plaudits, not only for her skill as a trainer, but in the way she shared the journey of Treve with the public.

After finishing fourth to Golden Horn in the 2015 Arc she was retired to her owner's Haras de Bouquetot where in addition to Qous, she has produced a two-year-old filly by Shalaa – also in training with Fabre and named Paris – as well as a yearling filly by Siyouni and another daughter this spring sired by fellow Arc winner Sea The Stars.

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