ENABLE CAN CRACK KENTUCKY
FRANKIE DETTORI believes Enable can become the first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner to break the Breeders’ Cup Turf hoodoo this Saturday.
The effervescent Italian, who rode the four-year-old in work at Churchill Downs yesterday morning, is conscious of the fact the Breeders’ Cup has become an Arc winner’s graveyard.
Great horses such as Dancing Brave and Golden Horn, also ridden by Dettori, have failed to follow up on their Arc victories.
But Dettori expects Enable’s shortened season to play in the filly’s favour, as she comes to Kentucky a fresh horse, unlike many previous Arc winners, who had arrived in the States at the end of a long, hard season.
Enable had one run at Kempton following an early-season setback, before a second win in the Arc at Longchamp in October.
“I’m aware of the fact that no horse has won an Arc and a Breeders’ Cup
Turf,” said
Dettori. “But records are there to be broken.
“In favour of Enable, she has only raced twice, is very fresh in herself and seems to have travelled over well.
“But you never can be completely certain that everything is spot on.”
Champion trainer John Gosden confirmed he was happy with the way Enable had travelled to Kentucky.
“Enable has settled in well,” said Gosden. “Frankie said she was very professional today. She is settling in nicely here.
“To be honest, I would prefer to be here off her campaign of last year, when she was on the crest of a wave, but all the immediate signs are good.
“However, she will be running a mile and a half round three turns, and that is a different ball game to the Arc. But we are happy as things stand.”