Effervescent Enable in form to make it six on the bounce
● Five-year-old set to race in UK for last time
It is impossible to go against Enable as she bids for a sixth Group One win in a row in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, the feature event on day two of the Ebor meeting at York.
John Gosden’s charge will be making what is expected to be her final appearance on British soil, with a history-making third Prix de l’arc de Triomphe win her primary autumn target. The five-yearold warms up for that outing here, in what could well be an intriguing race despite only four runners going to post.
Enable’s Coral and King George wins put her firmly in the driving seat, with that latter Ascot victory one of the most memorable finishes in years as she edged out Crystal Ocean following a protracted duel in the final two furlongs.
Enable won despite a troubled passage that day, stepping up on her Eclipse verdict, when she had the re-opposing Magical threequarters of a length back in second – replicating the result of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.
There is no real reason to suggest Magical can make up that deficit this time, although the only minor concern might be just how hard a race Enable had at Ascot.
With a stablemate apiece in the race, tactics will surely play a major role, but Frankie Dettori is riding at his peak this year and will not be easily caught out.
Enable will not be much of a price, but Under The Stars should be worth supporting in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.
Unbeaten in two starts for James Tate, she caused a 25-1 shock when winning an Ascot Group Three on King George day last month.
That was a stylish performance on ground that was probably not ideal, and the decision of connections to stump up a supplementary fee for this Group Two speaks volumes.
Search For A Song found the Irish Oaks too stern a test last time, but can regain the winning thread in the British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes. Given her only previous win was in a Fairyhouse maiden, it was quite a jump to go from second in a Listed heat to Group One company at the Curragh. Search For A Song was hardly disgraced, though, putting in all her best work at the end of the race to grab fourth at the line.
Switching back to Listed company here, the Galileo filly should have a bit of an easier ride – and Dermot Weld is shrewd enough to realise his charge’s capabilities.
St Ives can go well at a decent price for William Haggas in the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes, while Wafy is the pick in the Clipper Logistics Handicap. Baalbek has shown a little ability in two starts this term and can finally get off the mark in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Board Handicap at Leicester, with an opening mark of 77 catching the eye.