Veteran French jockey Thierry Jarnet, best known in recent years as the rider of the brilliant mare Treve, has announced his retirement from the saddle because of an ongoing knee problem.

The 49-year-old steered the Criquette Head-Maarek-trained Treve to eight of her nine career victories, including successive triumphs in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in 2013 and 2014.

"I have had to finish. I've had a problem with my leg," Jarnet told Press Association Sport:.

"I've no plans to start training, I don't know what I'll do yet.

"I rode many good horses for Andre Fabre - Pennekamp, Subotica and lots of good fillies.

"Recently I've had Moonlight Cloud, and, of course, Treve. She would have to be the best of them all."

Head-Maarek admitted to being surprised when Jarnet gave her the news on Friday morning.

"Thierry came to the stables this morning to tell me he he was retiring and I am a little bit sad as we've had so many great days together," she said.

"Obviously we had some fantastic times with Treve - the second Arc was fantastic - but there were a lot of other good horses as well."

For much of the 1990s, Jarnet rode principally for Fabre and was crowned champion jockey in his homeland on four occasions.