Dettori rides Enable to victory in Ascot race

ASCOT, England: Frankie Dettori punched the air in triumph after he rode hot favorite Enable to victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The John Gosden trained 3-year-old filly, owned by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, skipped over the soft ground with a stone weight concession in the mile-and-a-half race having won the Irish Oaks by six lengths two weeks ago.

It was a career fifth win in the race for Dettori, who was proven right in his prediction that the dual Oaks winner in Epsom and Ireland had “all the weapons you need.”

Dettori, who was dieting all week as he returns from a broken shoulder, made his trademark leap from Enable and was smiling broadly as he and Gosden went to collect their trophy in pouring rain.

“She was very, very good,” he said.

“It was the best feel I’ve had since Golden Horn,” Dettori said in reference to his 2015 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner.

The superstar horse was given a rapturous ovation from the stands after storming down the rail-side in driving rain, rampaging down the home straight having led from half-way and winning by a good three lengths.

In form Irish horse Ulysses came second carrying much more weight and the much-fancied Highland Reel, last year’s winner, was narrowly pipped for third after suffering with the conditions.

Just two 3-year-olds have won this race in its 77 editions.