The European Horse of the Year in 2017, Enable had barely been seen this year,
but appeared when it mattered to win the Group I Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp
for the second year in a row.
Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Enable tracked the
leaders and kicked clear down the running before having enough left to hold on
and win by a short neck over Irish Oaks winning Sea of Class (Sea the Stars) and
last year's runner up Cloth of Stars (Sea the Stars).
Enable had only one previous run this year winning a Group III event at Kempton,
but her class guided her home.
"It's not been the
preparation we've wanted - I had a slight hiccup between Kempton and here with
a slight temperature problem - so it's not been easy and it's down to the
filly. Frankie rode a lovely race. Enablewasn't at her
best today. But she got the job done and she's a wonderful filly," said John
Gosden.
It is possible the
daughter of Galileo stallion Nathaniel will remain in training with the goal of
returning next year in a bid to become the first three-time winner of this
race, but for now the Breeders' Cup Turf could be next.
A homebred for Juddmonte Farms, Enable has the overall record of nine wins from
10 starts.
She is the best of four winners from stakes-winning Sadler's Wells mare
Concentric so has a close up 3 x 2 double cross of legendary sire Sadler's
Wells.