Enable books her ticket for Epsom
Gosden has strong Oaks hand after Chester win Bad-tempered Montaly in ‘special’ Cup triumph
John Gosden appears to have a strong hand for this year’s Investec Oaks after Enable, third behind stablemate Shutter Speed at Newbury on her first start this season, ran out an impressive winner of the Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks here yesterday.
Frankie Dettori got first run on the Irish filly Alluring and Ryan Moore’s mount was unable to make any inroads into the lead and was beaten by a length and three-quarters. Indeed, Dettori’s biggest problem was organising the lad leading up the winner to get out of the way of his flying dismount.
On being told to smile because he had just had a winner, Lord Grimthorpe, Khaled Abdullah’s racing manager, replied: “The pressure only begins now!”
The filly, by Gosden’s King George winner Nathaniel, was available at 25-1 for Epsom before yesterday’s race but is now as short as 7-1 third favourite with Coral. Though Rhododendron, the 1,000 Guineas winner, is favourite, Gosden’s trio of Shutter Speed, Enable and Coronet are the next three in the betting.
Lord Grimthorpe said: “I’m very happy with that. Frankie didn’t think they were going a great pace and he quickened and quickened up again. We were confident she would stay a mile and a half.
“Shutter Speed goes for the Musidora, but distance is an issue for her, there is some doubt on her pedigree, so she’s also in the Prix de Diane. But this was the plan with Enable to come here, get her learning and educated and she’ll go to Epsom next.”
Dettori, who pointed out that Gosden would run Coronet in the Saint Alary at Deauville on Sunday, said: “The form connects with Shutter Speed. For a stayer, she showed a good turn of speed. It’s all going nicely. I’ll have more news for you next week!”
Montaly owed the trainer’s, wife Annalisa Balding, a big favour after kicking out at her as she legged up Oisin Murphy in the parade ring before the 188Bet Chester Cup. He was so close to connecting that he smashed her new phone in her handbag. However, he duly obliged by landing one of the country’s top staying handicaps by a neck from Yorkidding in a thrilling finish.
Without her phone, she was unable to brief her husband, who had elected to go to Chelmsford, on the victory. But, despite his quirks, she described Sir Charles Hobhouse’s Montaly as a “special horse”.
“He’s not straightforward, which makes it even more special. I’m so shocked – we thought it would be too quick for him and, though they have watered, we didn’t think they’d put enough on,” she said.