Enable still in with strong chance of retaining crown

Enable’s attempt to make history as the first triple winner of the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe at Parislongchamp last Sunday faltered in the final furlong and while this impacted on the brilliant mare’s chances of retaining her Cartier Horse Of The Year crown, her cause is far from lost.

She trails the consistent Magical, who finished fifth on Sunday, by 16 points and while Enable’s immediate racing future is not decided the views of journalists and handicappers plus the public vote make up 70 per cent of the final total and the immensely popular Enable is sure to figure strongly in those polls.

Older horses have a stranglehold in the horse of the year category, which is perhaps a reflection on this year’s Classic generation.

The two-year-olds do not figure in the awards until midsummer but now that their season is in full flow they have plenty of chances to score points.

Pinatubo, one of two outstanding juvenile colts racing under the Godolphin banner this season, tackles the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday and will be a short price to continue his progress up the rankings for leading two-year-old colt.

Godolphin’s unbeaten Earth Light, winner of the Middle Park Stakes last month, is the current leader.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Albigna made a substantial move in the two-year-old filly category with her convincing victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day and only Raffle Prize is now above her.