Enable stars in Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori
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.
John Gosden's brilliant filly lined up as the hot favourite for Europe's premier middle-distance contest after four consecutive victories at the top-level in the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Oaks, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.
The three-year-old made a fast start from stall two and Frankie Dettori always had her well positioned in behind Aidan O'Brien's pair of Idaho and Order Of St George.
The popular Italian gave Enable her head racing inside the final two furlongs and she quickly stamped her class, quickening clear in stunning fashion to seal a dominant success.
Dettori, winning the Arc for an unprecedented fifth time, said: "I was very confident all week...she is a tremendous filly.
"I said to John last week she is the best she has ever been. To keep this filly at 100 per cent all year is fantastic.
"I had position 'A', I knew I had no weight and she stays, so I kicked and she gave me four lengths and the race was over.
"She's amazing and is an absolute freak. I love her.
"John is a genius."
Watch a replay of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe courtesy of Equidia's YouTube page
What made the performance all the more staggering was how keen Enable was for much of the mile-and-a-half journey. Dettori had his mount in the perfect place throughout, but she refused to settle.
However, the daughter of Nathaniel still had more than enough in the tank to leave her toiling rivals trailing in her wake in the straight.
It was a second Arc success for Gosden following the victory of Golden Horn two years ago.
The Clarehaven handler ruled out another run this year in the Breeders' Cup - but does have high hopes Enable will stay in training as a four-year-old.
He said: "She's very special and she was well positioned by Frankie in order to show her sheer class and brilliance.
"It's all about the filly and the owner-breeder Prince Khalid (Abdullah). He bred the mother and for his farm to produce something like this is exciting for us all.
"I think it would be wrong to run her again this year. I think to go to the Breeders' Cup would be wrong, too hard on the filly.
"If she's in great form we should consider next year. She has only raced for 10 months of her life.
"She had one little run last November, but really she's only had one season of racing. There would be every reason to keep her in training next year as a four-year-old, particularly with the new Longchamp opening.
"That would be exciting - to try to win the Arc on two different tracks."
Reflecting on the performance, he added: "She showed an impressive turn of foot and acceleration to kill the field. She has amazing ability.
"Frankie got her in a great position. He's pretty good for an old jock! She's shown us at home that she's right in the zone. She's eating well and looking well and still has her summer coat.
"She enjoys her work. We don't ask her anything at home, we just let her enjoy herself, but she gave us every sign that she was ready to run a race like that again."
Cloth Of Stars filled the runner-up spot, two and a half lengths away, with Sir Michael Stoute's Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International hero Ulysses another length and a quarter back in third.
Ulysses finished fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf and Stoute confirmed he is likely to return to America following his valiant effort in defeat.
He said: "He's run his race and there are no excuses regarding the ground as it rode well.
"I don't think he's had too hard a race and, if that's the case, we will take him to the Breeders' Cup Turf again."
Ulysses was ridden by British champion jockey Jim Crowley, who said: "I had a lovely position throughout, tracking Enable.
"He picked up well for me when I asked him in the straight, but the winner must be an exceptional filly."
Order Of St George, third behind stablemate Found 12 months ago, fared best of the Ballydoyle camp this time around in fourth.
Aidan O'Brien also saddled Idaho (eighth), Winter (ninth), Seventh Heaven (14th) and Capri (17th).
He said: "That was probably far enough for Winter and we might go back to a mile and a quarter for the race at Ascot (Qipco Champion Stakes).
"Seventh Heaven is getting better and Idaho was probably lit up a bit.
"Order Of St George ran very well and we might look at the two-mile race (Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup) at Ascot."
Enable's 2017 record
Click on each race for full result & free video replay
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."
- June 2 - 1st - Epsom Oaks
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."
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."
Dettori's past Arc victories
LAMMTARRA (1995)
"It was nerve-wracking. He was an unbeaten horse and a Derby and King George winner. I was only 24 and there was a lot of pressure on me. I had lots of faith in the horse. The first Arc is probably the one you remember the most. It was amazing and it was a dream come true.
"As a kid the only races televised were the Derby, King George and Arc, so to win one was great and no words can describe it. The race was very straightforward. I sat close to the pace. I kicked really early and wanted to make sure they were in full flight before they came to me.
"He had a tremendous will to win and was a hard horse to pass and that proved to be the case. I remember looking across at that grandstand - it was amazing."
SAKHEE (2001)
"Sakhee was probably the one I was most confident about. He had worked incredibly well before the Arc. I rang my parents up and told them to come to France as I told them I was going to win the Arc. They said 'don't talk like that son', but I said 'just get over here'. He won by six lengths and it was never in doubt. The ground was soft and he loved it.
"After that he was beaten a nose in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was a lovely horse to ride as he was very easy."
MARIENBARD (2002)
"He was probably the surprise package. He had been working well and he had a great draw. I guess Sulamani was unlucky not to win. Everything fell right, from having a good draw to the split happening at the right time. He was a late developer. He is the one that surprised me the most, but I will take it.
"He got better as he got older. He won two Group Ones in Germany before the race so he came into it good form. It was probably not a vintage Arc, but he still won an Arc."
GOLDEN HORN (2015)
"He was the best one so far. I had a bad draw and I had to improvise and I went on my own. He was another Derby winner and again I had lots of faith in him. He came out of the stalls exactly like I thought and he won, which was great. It capped a fantastic season for me, him and John Gosden. As it is the one that is freshest in my memory, it is the one I remember the most. It was thrilling and it was the last one at Longchamp before the redevelopment.
"When I got the draw it was not ideal, but you have to come up with a plan and luckily it worked. It looked great as I won - it would have looked poor if I was beaten, but it was brilliant."
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