Dettori has faith in star filly’s historic bid

ENABLE will seek turf immortality with a third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory in 2019 after it was revealed the John Gosden-trained superstar will race on next year.

The daughter of Nathaniel, whose owner Prince Khalid Abdullah yesterday announced the news the racing world had longed to hear, is Ladbrokes’ 4-1 favourite to become the first three-time Arc winner at Longchamp next October.

“It’s great news – she’s the horse of a lifetime and it will be fantastic to see her in action in 2019,” said Frankie Dettori, on board for Enable’s first two successes in Europe’s middle-distance championship, and her history-making triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs 17 days ago. “It’s a sporting decision by Prince Khalid and I hope it gets the reward it deserves. “But we always felt, with the season she had this year, that there could be more to come. The British winter has just become that bit more bearable!” Enable, sidelined by a knee injury until September this year before returning to capture a second Arc, broke new ground as the first Arc winner to score at the Breeders’ Cup.

Connections then delayed a decision over the four-year-old’s racing future, but Abdullah’s racing manager Lord Teddy Grimthorpe said yesterday: “Prince Khalid is pleased to announced that Enable will stay in training.

“No racing schedule has been set, but it will feature the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a prime target.”

Gosden (left) believes Enable can scale new heights next season.

“She loves racing and she loves training,” he said. “We all know she’s had a difficult year but it’s a bold move by Prince Khalid and, all being well, it will be great for racing.“