ENABLE IN SHAPE FOR ARC DEFENCE

STAR filly Enable was yesterday reported to be in rude health following her spectacular return to action at Kempton in the September Stakes on Saturday. The daughter of Nathaniel, who won the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks last season, as well as the King George, is now a top-priced 7-4 with Coral to successfully defend her Arc crown on October 7. There were no signs of an enforced 342-day lay-off with a knee injury for John Gosden’s five-time Group One winner as she breezed clear of classy market rival Crystal Ocean for a three-and-a-half-length success under Frankie Dettori. The Italian rider believes Enable ‘felt as good as ever’ in extending her winning sequence to seven and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, was equally delighted. ‘She is good this morning and there are no problems,’ said Grimthorpe. ‘She was in very good form going into the race and we hoped she would produce a good performance. ‘The way she did it was very pleasing. Everything about it was good and I don’t think you could have asked for any more in how the race worked out. ‘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.’