Enable Absolutely Brilliant In Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe

Juddmonte homebred Enable did exactly as she was expected to do in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, bursting away from a talented field in the straight to score a 2 1/2-length victory. The 3-year-old daughter of Nathaniel was positioned close up throughout the 1 1/2-mile contest, but the race was over as soon as jockey Frankie Dettori gave her the cue two furlongs from the wire. Enable’s win gives both Prince Khalid Abdullah and Dettori their fifth Arc victory, and trainer John Gosden his second win in the marquee race.

Enable crossed the wire in front of Cloth of Stars, with Sir Michael Stoute’s Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International hero Ulysses checking in third and Aidan O’Brien trainee Order of St. George fourth.

Idaho was out early to set the pace, with Enable in a joint second with Order of St. George down the back of the Chantilly Racecourse. Enable was always traveling well, though shuffled back to fourth around the bend, but she simply galloped along with the field until Dettori asked her for her best stride.

Two furlongs from the wire, Dettori asked the sophomore filly and she quickly put four lengths on the field. From that point on he guided her home under a hand ride, allowing Godolphin’s Cloth of Stars (Sea the Stars) to close that gap to 2 1/2 lengths. Flaxman Stables’ Ulysses and Coolmore‘s Order of St. George finished third and fourth.

“She’s a superstar,” said Dettori, now the winningest rider in the history of the Arc with five total. “She’s an absolute freak.”

Enable has now won five consecutive Group 1 races over the one mile, four furlong distance, the Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.

Gosden said: “She’s very special and she was well positioned by Frankie in order to show her sheer class and brilliance.

“It’s all about the filly and the owner-breeder Prince Khalid (Abdullah). He bred the mother and for his farm to produce something like this is exciting for us all.

“I think it would be wrong to run her again this year. I think to go to the Breeders’ Cup would be wrong, too hard on the filly.

“If she’s in great form, we should consider next year. Maybe it would be wonderful to go to the opening of the new Longchamp and try to do it again.”

Dettori was keen to pay tribute to Gosden, saying: “I said to John last week she is the best she has ever been. To keep this filly at 100 per cent all year is fantastic.

“I had position ‘A’, I knew I had no weight and she stays, so I kicked and she gave me four lengths and the race was over. She’s amazing and is an absolute freak. I love her. John is a genius.”

While a decision on whether Enable stays in training next year will ultimately be made by her owner, Gosden said: “She has only raced for 10 months of her life.

“She had one little run last November, but really she’s only had one season of racing. There would be every reason to keep her in training next year as a four-year-old, particularly with the new Longchamp opening. That would be exciting – to try to win the Arc on two different tracks.”

Reflecting on the performance, he added: “She showed an impressive turn of foot and acceleration to kill the field. She has amazing ability.

“Frankie got her in a great position. He’s pretty good for an old jock!

“She’s shown us at home that she’s right in the zone. She’s eating well and looking well and still has her summer coat.

“She enjoys her work. We don’t ask her anything at home, we just let her enjoy herself, but she gave us every sign that she was ready to run a race like that again.”

Enable has an unusual pedigree, with close inbreeding of 2×3 to Sadler‟s Wells: whilst Thoroughbred breeding has been ordinated more and more towards speed, that of Enable is to stamina. The dam of Enable, Concentric, was bred by Juddmonte Farms, as was her second dam, Apogée, and her third dam, Bourbon Girl. The fourth dam, Fleet Girl, was bought by Prince Khalid Abdullah when he acquired the bloodstock of Dr Schnapka, Ferrans Stud, in 1982. Concentric is a Listed winner and Group 3 placed. Apogée, the second dam, won the Prix de Royaumont (Group 3). She was very successful at stud, producing Dance Routine, dual Group 2 winner and second in the Prix de Diane. Dance Routine is the dam of Flintshire, a five time Group 1 winner over 2,400 meters and twice second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

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