ENABLE STAYS IN TRAINING
Repeat of Yorkshire Oaks and Arc double is likely target for top filly
THE GOOD news is that horse of the year Enable, the undisputed Queen of European racing, is to remain in training next year.
The even more exciting prospect is there’s every reason – fitness permitting – that Frankie Dettori’s mount attempts to defend the Yorkshire Oaks after the rider declared that the champion was “a filly of a lifetime”.
Unlike the Epsom and Irish equivalents that are restricted to three-year-olds, York’s Group One race is open to older horses.
Both Shareta (2012) and The Fugue (2013) beat the Classic generation on the Knavesmire.
And the timing of the race, one of the centrepieces of the Ebor festival in late August, will give Enable sufficient time to prepare for her number one priority – a successful defence of Europe’s blue riband race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, that she won so spectacularly at Chantilly earlier this month.
With the Arc due to return next year to its traditional home, Longchamp, following the redevelopment of the Paris course, Enable’s trainer John Gosden – who is steeped in turf history – relishes the challenge of winning Europe’s premier middle distance race at two different courses.
If his stable star did so, she would be one of the all-time great fillies and maintain York’s tradition of attracting the very best horses to the Knavesmire, whether it be Sea The Stars, Frankel and now Enable, who won August’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks by a widemargin of five lengths.
Like the legendary Frankel, Enable runs in the evocative green, white and pink colours of worldleading owner-breeder Prince Khalid bin Abdullah who heads the Juddmonte Farms breeding empire. His racing manager, Lord Teddy Grimthorpe, was born in Yorkshire and is the longstanding chairman of York Racecourse.
And, while connections will defer to trainer John Gosden who will always put the horse first, it’s possible that Enable lines up at Royal Ascot – Australian wonderhorse Winx could be a tantalising opponent after claiming her 21st straight victory last weekend – before returning to the Berkshire track to defend the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
From there, the Yorkshire Oaks and Arc are the obvious targets.
Last night an elated Dettori could barely contain his excitement at the news that Enable, sired by Gosden’s former King George winner Nathaniel, would stay in training after bouncing back from an early season defeat at Newbury to win six races on the bounce, five at Group One level, and amass £3.8m in prize money.
“I’m very pleased and grateful to Prince Khalid for keeping her in training because, to me, she is a filly of a lifetime,” said the 46-year-old Italian-born jockey.
“What she has achieved this year has been nothing short of sensational.
“I’m looking forward to having her back next year so we can have another crack at going for the Arc and all the other big races.
“She is the best filly I have ridden.
“She won five Group Ones, including two Classics, and she didn’t just win them, she won them amazingly.
“I think the racing fans will look forward to seeing her race next year, including me, as I’m her biggest fan. I didn’t have to say very much.
“John Gosden knows the filly better than I do and he spoke to Prince Khalid and came to the decision.”
A statement issued by Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms read: “Prince Khalid bin Abdullah is pleased to announce that Enable will stay in training for 2018. Her racing programme will be decided in the New Year, but the defence of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be high in consideration.”