Brilliant Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable races on into 2018
Frankie Dettori has spoken of his delight at the news his "filly of a lifetime" Enable will stay in training next season.
John Gosden's filly has enjoyed a fantastic three-year-old campaign, winning the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as producing spectacular performances to beat the boys in the King George at Ascot and, most recently, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.
In the immediate aftermath of her French victory Gosden was keen on the idea of the daughter of Nathaniel staying in training and after deliberating for a week, owner Khalid Abdullah has confirmed she will press on in 2018, with a second Arc bid at a renovated Longchamp high on the agenda.
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."
Dettori has partnered Enable to each of her six triumphs this season and is relishing the prospect of getting back on board the star filly next year.
He said: "I'm very pleased and grateful to Prince Khalid for keeping her in training because, to me, she is a filly of a lifetime.
"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."
Sky Bet's Enable specials
Enable's 2017 record
Click on each race for full result & free video replay
April 21 - 3rd - EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes (Newbury)
A quiet introduction to 2017 saw Enable make late progress to finish third behind stablemate Shutter Speed in a 10-furlong conditions race at Newbury in April.
May 10 - 1st - Cheshire Oaks (Chester)
Ridden by Frankie Dettoti for the first time, Enable showed her Classic potential with an impressive victory in the Cheshire Oaks as she swept Aidan O'Brien's Alluringly aside with the minimum of fuss. Dettori said: "She's a very nice filly, who is improving all the time. She is beginning to know what she is doing. I liked the way she quickened and put the race to bed."
Leading two furlongs out, Enable put her rivals to the sword to run out a facile five-length winner from Rhododendron in the fillies' Classic at Epsom, which was run in driving rain and a thunderstorm. Dettori said: "She pulled away in the last furlong and is a good mare. She's very good. She's still a bit of a frame, but I think she'll get better and better."
July 15 - 1st - Irish Oaks (Curragh)
After tracking Bengala, Enable went about her business halfway up the straight and passed the post five and a half lengths clear of Rain Goddess in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Gosden said: "She's probably the best we've got. She's exceptionally good. She quickens and she stays well. We couldn't be more pleased with her."
July 29 - 1st King George VI & QE II Stakes (Royal Ascot)
Enable was crowned queen in the King George as she beats the colts and older horses in some style with another breathtaking display at Ascot, dispensing of the top-class Ulysses by four and a half lengths. Dettori said: "I haven't had a feel like that since Golden Horn. She's very good. I knew she was up to the task, but I didn't expect her to do that and she destroyed them.
August 24 - 1st Yorkshire Oaks (York)
The Yorkshire Oaks proved another cakewalk as Enable made all the running at York and won unchallenged by five lengths. Gosden said: "She's somewhat special, I think at a mile and a half she is the best filly I've ever trained. She's exceptional and able to do it both ways, from the front and off the pace."
October 1 - 1st Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Chantilly)
Enable saved the best until last as she capped a memorable season with a scintillating display in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly. Gosden said: "She's very special and she was well positioned by Frankie in order to show her sheer class and brilliance."
Enable’s options in 2018
John Gosden had already expressed his excitement at the potential crowd-pulling tour Enable could go on next season, even before it was decided the superstar filly would be staying in training. Now it has been confirmed she will race on in 2018, we look at the options open to the superstar daughter of Nathaniel…
Dubai Sheema Classic, 1m4f, Meydan, end of March
With a second Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe looking like being the highest priority on Enable’s 2018 agenda, perhaps starting as early as the end of March is one of her least likely options. It’s a huge prize, though, with $5,000,000 up for grabs and the Sheema Classic is run over Enable’s perfect distance. John Gosden has won it twice, too, with the mare Dar Re Mi in 2010 and then with Jack Hobbs earlier this year.
Epsom and Royal Ascot, 1m4f or 10f, early to mid June
With an end-of-the-year campaign in mind, it’s probably more likely that we won’t see Enable until June when the middle distance Group Ones come into play in the UK and Ireland. She was brilliant at Epsom in the Investec Oaks, so a return to the track for the Coronation Cup has to be a possibility, although that might come at the expense of a trip to Royal Ascot a few weeks later.
With no Group One over 1m4f at Royal Ascot, if she did turn up in Berkshire it would probably be for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over 10 furlongs and a potential clash with Aussie superstar Winx. Enable showed plenty of speed when winning the Arc so a drop back to 1m2f could well be one of her targets for next year and there would be no bigger stage to prove a point on than at the Royal meeting.
King George and York, 1m4f and extended 10f, July and August
A return to Ascot to defend her King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes title at the end of July looks likely whatever route she takes next season, given its timing. This gives her the first chance to take on the 2018 Classic generation, if they are up for the challenge. This season she went from Ascot to York’s Ebor meeting, but, instead of going for the Yorkshire Oaks next year, perhaps she’ll take in the Juddmonte International over the shorter distance instead. It could be the first time she drops back to 10 and in her owner’s race as well.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and international campaign, all 1m4f, October-December
Having September off did Enable no harm this season and Gosden could well repeat the tried-and-tested route of York to France ahead of her bid to retain the Arc at the newly-renovated Longchamp next year. That could be that, depending on what happens in Paris, but if she has had a light campaign there are some huge international targets for her. Like the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in November. Gosden has never won that race, although he did go very close with The Fugue and that filly took in Sha Tin and the Hong Kong Vase in early December as well. All are options on Enable’s 2018 whistle stop tour...
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
