Enable thrills Gosden despite being eclipsed by Ghaiyyath
ESHER, United Kingdom: Trainer John Gosden said he was thrilled as Enable began her bid for a historic third victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a respectable second in the Group One Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Sunday.
The six-year-old came to challenge halfway down the straight but the front-running Ghaiyyath held her off to deny Enable and Frankie Dettori a repeat win in the race.
Ghaiyyath, ridden by William Buick, had the advantage of already having raced twice, including an impressive victory in the Coronation Cup last month.
Gosden, though, was delighted with the 2017 and 2018 Arc winner who was narrowly edged out of a third win in the race considered Europe’s most prestigious last year.
“Absolutely thrilled,” he said. “That was a great run first time out.
“We were always wary of a front-running type like Ghaiyyath who is a very good horse.
“It is full steam ahead for the King George (VI Stakes at Ascot on July 25, a race she won in 2017 and 2019).
“This was the perfect platform for her and the King George. She showed she has all her desire and zest. Frankie said he was very happy with her.” Gosden said that it was thanks to Ghaiyyath that Enable had stayed in training.
“It was a deep sense of relief, her performance today,” he said.
“It was never really the intention to keep her in training at six but in the Arc last year we went too hard, too soon in chasing Ghaiyaath and we walked the final 200 metres and got passed.”
“That is why she is stll in training because we got the tactics wrong,” added the 69-year-old, laughing.
Gosden -- whose star has lost just three times in her 16-race career -- said he had never talked up her chances of winning the Eclipse as he felt she was at 85 percent of her full fitness.