Enable too good in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Darryl Sherer - Sunday July 30

Enable rewarded a brutal diet regime for Frankie Dettori when beating the older horses in Saturday's Group I King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.

Advertisement
Enable winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo: Longines

Dettori had shed seven pounds in six days to make the 8:07 (54kg) for the English and Irish Oaks winner and the heavily backed 5/4 favourite revelled in the softening conditions to score comfortably.

Enable was third approaching the home turn as stablemate Maverick Wave was setting the pace for Jack Hobbs.

Dettori released the handbrake into the home straight and Enable quickened clear, going on to defeat Ulysses (9/1) by 4 1/2-lengths with Idaho (8/1) a further three-quarters of a length away third.

Highland Reel was came under pressure three furlongs out and stayed on for fourth, beaten just under nine lengths while the Argentine visitor Sixties Song was never a factor in the conditions and finished last of the 10 runners.

"Those days of not eating have paid off - I could do with a good burger now," Dettori told Racing UK.

"She goes on any ground and now she has proved she can match up with older horses - she's very good."

Trainer John Gosden won this race in 2014 with another of his Epsom Oaks winners in Taghrooda but told the Sporting Life Enable was as good a filly he has trained.

"The facts show she can do it on any ground and Frankie was bold," Gosden said.

"She breaks well and is very business like. It wasn't the plan to be that close, but she was getting weight from the older horses.

"I thought Ulysses made a brave run at her and I thought Maverick Wave did a beautiful job pacemaking."

Enable emulated her sire Nathaniel, also trained by Gosden, in winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Gosden said will now attempt to win another Oaks.

"All in all she's as good a filly as I've ever trained - Taghrooda was brilliant to win this and she's following Dahlia and Pawneese," Gosden said.

"I've always planned the Yorkshire Oaks, then pause, stop and think - no trials and then possibly the one in Paris (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe)."

Sportsbet make Enable the $3 favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on October 2.

You can watch the race below, Enable in the green jacket, pink cap and second early.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Savvy Win For Hellbent Filly
Connections of talented Hellbent filly Savvy Hallie would’ve breathed a sigh of relief after the multiple stakes placed filly finally secured her maiden victory, winning the Newcastle Masters Builders Apprentices Super 3YO Maiden Plate (900m) on Thursday.
Cleo Cat tops August (Early) Sale at $355,000
A date with well credentialled new stallion More Than Looks awaits today’s Inglis Digital August (Early) sale-topper Cleo Cat, which sold to Yulong for $355,000.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 13
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Emphatic Seven Length Victory for Artorius Brother
Making his third race day appearance off the back of a pleasing second last time out, 3yo colt Sixties highlighted his potential class with the Chris Waller trained brother to multiple Group 1 winner Artorius pulling clear by more than seven lengths!
Cogburn Arrives At Widden
Widden Stud’s new recruit Cogburn has arrived in the Hunter Valley with Widden producing vision of his arrival and first parades.
Cantiamo Leads Home Too Darn Hot Fillies One Two
With bigger plans ahead, be it this campaign or the next, connections have themselves a lovely filly for the future as the Kris Lees trained Cantiamo resumed on the Kensington track with a first up victory.
Ole Kirk Half-Brother To Golden Slipper Winner Scores In Style
Improving off a debut fifth, the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Godtfred Kirk (Ole Kirk) appreciated the step up to 1400m, with the half-brother to Golden Slipper winner Mossfun breaking his maiden in Wednesday’s Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate at Sandown.
Enable a firm favourite for the Arc
Champion three-year-old filly Enable is a commanding odds-on favourite to win Europe’s most prestigious race – the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) – at Chantilly this weekend.
New Team Announced for Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse have today outlined their new structure and leadership team.
Stakes Placed Blue Point Filly Breaks Maiden
Third on debut in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes, the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Point Barrow (Blue Point) resumed at Bendigo on Thursday in the Avis Bendigo 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate (1100m) to break her maiden.