It's been a productive time in Europe of late for Arrowfield Stud's late, great Redoute's Choice with the Cox Plate bound Danceteria capturing the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich last week, while at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday Enbihaar backed up her victory in the Lancashire Oaks with a thoroughly dominant performance in the Group II Lillie Langtry Stakes.
Given a quiet ride in the early stages by Jim Crowley, the powerfully built Enbihaar left a quartet of three-year-old fillies in her wake, drawing five lengths clear of the Epsom Oaks fourth Manuela De Vega (Lope de Vega) with Ballydoyle's Galileo filly South Sea Pearl a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (image Sporting Life)
Carrying the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Stud, the lightly raced 4yo daughter of Redoute's Choice advanced her record to 4 wins, a second and a third from 7 starts with earnings of $A513,000.
The John Gosden-trained mare is expected to make her next start in either the Group 1 Irish St Leger or the Group II Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
Owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager Angus Gold said Enbihaar had really come of age.
"I was really impressed with her. I'm a real fan of this filly," Gold told Sporting Life.
"She was quite hot and fizzy as a two-year-old but she has absolutely settled down now and loves her work. She stays surprising well for a Redoute's Choice and she handles this fast ground. It was a really good performance with a penalty.
"She's got a magnificent stride on her, and she must be about 16.3hh, but she was light framed when we bought her and has just really developed. I'm delighted for Sheikh Hamdan, who kept her in training."
Jockey Jim Crowley suggested the Irish St Leger would be a suitable assignment although she would need to be supplemented.
"She had a 3lb penalty and that was a big performance to do what she did there. It's very sporting that Sheikh Hamdan has kept her in training as a four-year-old - you can see how big she is and, obviously, it has really come to fruition with the extra year. It has taken a while for her to fill her frame and she is only just coming good now. She's getting better with every run.
"She
has stopped getting so hot - she was walking around before the race cool as a
cucumber.
"I wanted to be handy. She is a big filly and she didn't jump well. She got caught out for speed a bit early on. You run very quickly down into a sharp bend and I got shuffled back a bit. It was plan B then, just getting her relaxed and to follow the pace. That is why I was conscious to get her on the outside and get her rolling quite early. I thought I'd make my move sooner rather than later, rather than get tapped for a bit of toe on her.
"She just gallops and is a real star. She's got a big stride on her and really covers the ground. You always worry how much you will find, but she found plenty today.
"I believe there is a new G1 at the Arc meeting over a mile and five furlongs for fillies only, the Prix de Royallieu, and I'm sure Mr Gosden has already got that pencilled in. I'd love to win a Group One with her. She deserves it."
A €500,000 purchase by Shadwell Farms out of the Haras du Mezeray draft at the August Arquana Yearling Sale, Enbihaar is a half-sister to stakes placegetters Silent Attack (Dream Ahead) and King Bolete (Cape Cross) out of the Trempolino mare Chanterelle who is a sister to multiple Gr III winner Cox Orange and a half-sister to Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Amonita (Anabaa) out of the top-class racemare Spectacular Joke (Spectacular Bid).
