High fives for Frankie
SUPER FILLY Enable landed the mammoth £2.4million first prize in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly yesterday almost without breaking sweat.
In the process, the 4-5 favourite provided Frankie Dettori with a record-breaking fifth success in Europe’s most valuable Flat race.
And it was high fives all round as Enable was gaining her fifth win at Group One level.
There have been some nail-biting finishes in the Arc over the years but this was not one of them as, from the moment Dettori asked Enable to quicken up about two furlongs out, she rapidly went clear.
At this point, backers might well have slipped away to the Pari Mutuel payout windows in a bid to beat the queues. Enable, even at the end of an arduous season, is a credit to trainer John Gosden’s conditioning skills and she pulled away, never looking in the slightest danger of relinquishing her lead.
Godolphin-owned Cloth Of Stars closed a little towards the line to finish second for French trainer Andre Fabre and jockey Mickael Barzalona, while Jim Crowley steered Ulysses into third spot for Sir Michael Stoute.
A delighted Dettori said: “Enable is uncomplicated and has a big heart.
“I was very confident. C’est magnifique. She’s a tremendous filly.”
Gosden added: “She’s very special and she was well positioned by Frankie in order to show her sheer class and brilliance.”