Enable must pass tactical test to win record third King George
Enable, kept in training at six to become the first three-time winner of the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe, has an even better chance of making British racing history at Ascot today by becoming the first threetime winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.
The race will be a fascinating tactical contest as much as anything, because both her rivals are trained by Aidan O’brien and, despite Enable’s price, it is no foregone conclusion.
But, if Enable’s appetite for racing remains what it was and, according to John Gosden it does, she and Frankie Dettori remain the combination to beat. She is officially 6lb better than Japan and gets a 3lb sex allowance. Only one sixyear-old, Swain, has won it before but not many have tried. However much a serial winner, Enable has lost her past two starts, albeit with excuses, and at six is unlikely to improve much now.
However, if Gosden’s analogy that she is now like an old boxer who would rather win on points than with a knockout punch is accurate, one presumes Ballydoyle will try to set it up for Japan to serve it up to her inside the last furlong once she has got past Sovereign, last year’s Irish Derby winner, who can in no way be dismissed as a hopeless pacemaker. Japan was beaten only a head by Enable in the Eclipse. Both he and Enable beat Crystal Ocean by a head last year, so there may not be much between them.
With his third runner, Anthony Van Dyck taken out of the race late last night after O’brien was unhappy with the result of his blood test, if one picked Sovereign in a sweepstake on the race it may not be the worst result ever.