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...
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.
G1 3YOs - Where the Real Action Is
2YO racing might garner a lot of attention, but the reality is G1 races run for this age group are shining a light on a comparatively small slice of that foal crop, whereas 3YO racing is where the real action lies as the good horses from the season before have to step up or slide out of contention.
G1 Older Milers and Stayers- No Wonder Owners Look Overseas
The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 26 Group I races won by older horses at a distance of 1600m or more and they were won by 17 different horses with Via Sistina (IRE) and Mr Brightside (NZ) the only horses to win G1 races as sprinters (less than 1600m) and also as mile/middle distance/staying horses.
G1 Older Sprinters- Are Our Sprinters the Best in the World?
The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 23 Group I races won by older horses at a distance less than 1600m, but one race that fits the category but is yet to be given G1 status is the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) and form out of it would suggest it was the best of them all.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 1
Here is the full list of 8 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Innovator Recognized
Emma Thompson was stepping into the unknown when taking on the role as Programme Lead for the NZB Kiwi, and after executing an outstanding inaugural running in March, she was recognised at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards.
Vale, Joe Yorke
The racing industry has lost one of its more colourful characters with the passing of Joe Yorke on Sunday.
Levakia Adds to Good Week for Curraghmore
Emerging filly Levakia has given Curraghmore further cause for celebration.
New kids on the block add fresh blood to Vibrant Victorian breeding scene
With 11 new stallions standing in Victoria this coming breeding season, including the winners of three Group 1 races on their ‘home’ soil, the short and long-term future looks increasingly bright for the state’s vibrant industry. 
Istataba adds international flavour to National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance.