GOSDEN’S GIRL POWER
John Gosden admits there was a time in the late 1990s when he felt his career was going nowhere and he seriously considered applying to become a trainer in hong Kong.
The man who had swapped life as one of America’s top trainers to return home to Britain was struggling to get within the same postcode as his ambitions.
Almost two decades on and with two champion trainer titles under his belt, Gosden can now forget that harrowing period.
As the only trainer in Britain able to consistently mount big-race threats to Aidan o’Brien — europe’s dominant force — Gosden will be out to make history with favourite enable in tomorrow’s £4.4million Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.
If the favourite can deliver Gosden a second Arc after Golden horn two years ago, she will be the first British-trained three-year-old filly to win France’s most prestigious race. It would also make Frankie dettori the most successful Arc rider on five wins.
Gosden has already voiced his fears about the problems enable will face among an 18-runner field around the tight bends of the race’s temporary home Chantilly.
With a far-from-ideal inside draw in stall two, dettori could also have to tap into enable’s energy reserves early to make sure he does not get stuck too far back in the pack.
despite her outstanding credentials, having won the english, Irish and Yorkshire oaks as well as the King George, bookmakers familiar with the chaos that can ensue around Chantilly ‘will not be running away’ from enable, according to Coral spokesman david stevens.
Last night they made her 10-11 favourite but she could well be odds-against for a race which looks likely to pit Gosden against his ‘old friend’ o’Brien.
The Irishman, who last year became the first trainer to saddle an Arc 1-2-3, is responsible for five runners, including last year’s third order of st George and st Leger winner Capri. But on form and recent history — five of the last six winners have been fillies or mares — his best looks to be Winter. The dual 1,000 Guineas winner has been chosen by stable jockey Ryan Moore, even though she has never raced over a mile and a half.
The rain forecast for tomorrow tempers confidence in sir Michael stoute’s Ulysses but he is still good enough to be placed on unfavourable going.
When Gosden and dettori flew back from Ireland after enable had won the oaks at the Curragh, they agreed how lucky they were to have such a good horse so soon after Golden horn.
Tomorrow she can emulate that brilliant colt.