Imperious Enable is now ready for Arc defence
FILLY WINS EASILY AND IS REPORTED TO HAVE TAKEN HER RUN WELL
Gosden’s charge now 7-4 favourite for Paris showpiece. London
Enable was reported to be in fine fettle yesterday morning after her footperfect return to action at Kempton on Saturday. Having been sidelined for much of the campaign with a knee injury, the John Gosden-trained four-year-old made her first start since landing last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe a winning one in Saturday's Group 3 September Stakes.
The daughter of Nathaniel, who also won the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks last season, as well as the King George, is now a top-priced 7-4 favourite to successfully defend her Arc crown on 7 October.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "She is good this morning and there are no problems. She was in very good form going into the race and we always hoped she would produce a good performance.
"The way she did it was very pleasing. I think everything about it was good and I don't think you could have asked for any more in how the race worked out.
"She got into a good rhythm, and although she was a little bit fresh, she settled really well, and she quickened well when asked. The runner-up (Crystal Ocean) is a very solid horse.
"The Arc is a huge race and she will have to bring her A-game, but that was a very good start to her year, if a somewhat belated one.
"It was great to see her do what she did yesterday."
A winner of five Group 1 races last year, Enable looked well up for it in the preliminaries and was full of it on the way to post, but that did not put off punters who backed her in to 8-15 (from 8-11) minutes before the off.
After the morning absence of pacemaker and stablemate Weekender, Frankie Dettori took the initiative on the Khalid Abdullahowned four-year-old, who showed the way at a decent clip to Crystal Ocean in the early stages.
Turning for home, he pushed the button at the 400m pole and surged clear of Sir Michael Stoute's colt to score cosily by 3.50 lengths without resorting to the whip.
Trainer John Gosden said: "I was confident Enable would do that today as she's high class. That was a nice race for both horses if you're having a prep for an Arc and it was good to see Enable back, as it's been a long wait.
"She'll come on for that as she was only 80 per cent fit – 85 at a stretch – but she's in a good place mentally and she's enjoyed it. It's been very frustrating for her, as it has for us, especially when she's seen the other horses going out on the Heath."
Dettori was also impressed: "That was awesome. I wasn't sure how fit she was as she's only being going a mile at home, but then she's trained by a master trainer. She got the job done and felt as good as ever. Bring on the Arc!"
Betting on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to be run at Longchamp in Paris on Sunday 7 October: 7-1 Enable, 9-2 Sea Of Class, 6-1 Cracksman, 10-1 Lah Ti Dar; 12-1 and upwards others. –