Enable wins her third King George!

Enable produced another sparkling display to claim an unprecedented third victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.

John Gosden’s superstar mare was narrowly denied in her bid to become the first three-time winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last season – and has been kept in training as a six-year-old with the primary objective of putting that right in October.

However, she first had the chance to make history at Ascot, having become only the third dual King George winner – after Dahlia (1973 and 1974) and Swain (1997 and 1998) – when getting the better of a pulsating duel with Crystal Ocean 12 months ago.

After delighting connections when finishing second behind Ghaiyyath on her reappearance in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown three weeks ago, Enable was the 4-9 favourite to claim her third King George – facing just two opponents in Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Japan and Sovereign.

Ridden by William Buick, last year’s surprise Irish Derby winner Sovereign cut out much of the running – opening up a significant advantage at one stage over Enable and Frankie Dettori and Japan under Ryan Moore.

However, it was clear rounding the home turn that the leader’s petrol tank was beginning to empty – while Dettori remained motionless aboard Enable and was even able to take a nonchalant look over his shoulder to see Japan toiling in behind.

Once given her head, Enable strode clear magnificently and passed the post five and a half lengths clear under her jubilant rider, with Sovereign filling the runner-up spot.

Gosden said: “With Anthony Van Dyck not there, it was obvious Sovereign would set a solid pace, not a mad one. Given Japan has won a Juddmonte International over 10 furlongs, he was always going to ride him to beat us for toe, but it went perfectly.

“I’m always worried here when you get rain on quick ground, because they can lose their hind legs, but thankfully that didn’t happen.

“Her work had been very good leading into this, and she was quite imperious today.

“It’s a pleasure to see when Frankie’s looking round, but if you do it too much you might fall off! She won it very nicely – I think he only gave her one flick.

“As they get older, they get more professional and think once they are two or three lengths clear they can ease up, but you never know if another horse is coming.”

He added: “It was a small but elite field today. There aren’t that many about once Ghaiyyath elected to go to York, and the Oaks and Derby winners live at Ballydoyle. To that extent, the best were on show.

“She trained really well for this. Last year Crystal Ocean was a hard nut to crack, and there was a certain Waldgeist in third, and we know what he went and did (won the Arc)

“On the other hand, if she had won that day in France she wouldn’t have been here today.

“I’d been very open that I let her come in her own time this year – she’s highly intelligent, she doesn’t need me to ask her too much, she brought herself here in top nick today.

“Between her training herself and Frankie training her, sometimes there’s not much room for me!”

Enable looks likely to make her next appearance at next month’s Ebor Festival at York, before her bid for more history in Paris.

Gosden said: “York has always been on the agenda – there are two races (Juddmonte International and Yorkshire Oaks), and we’ll look at both, as we did last year.

“York could be really exciting, with an exceptional Oaks winner (Love) heading there as well.”

Dettori performed his trademark flying dismount in the winner’s enclosure – and was visibly emotional as he reflected on the victory.

He said: “Since the Eclipse, she has really turned a corner. Her work has been good, and her enthusiasm has been back.

“Quietly I was expecting a good performance, but I wasn’t expecting her to win by five lengths against the likes of Japan.

“I’m very emotional, because I’ve only got her maybe for another two months, so every race is special – and I’m really going to enjoy this one.

“It’s three King Georges for her, and I’ve joined Lester Piggott with seven wins.”

[Drlpar]

Great call and a great ride from Frankie Dettori!

[anotherblonde]

Winning time 2m 28.92s (slow by 0.42s), she won in 2:32.42 in 2019. She did all she was asked. She is Arc bound.

[Souljah]

Awesome mare! A history making 3rd King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes win and does it under a hands and heals ride from Frankie after a lot of pundits were saying she's vulnerable in this race being 6 years old. Bring on the Arc! She will win a third Arc this year in my opinion and defeat Love in winning it. The only horse that i could see going close to defeating her over 12 furlongs is Contrail and connections will not be bringing him over from Japan this year. Japan looked like he wasn't stretching out well and it will be interesting to hear from Aidan in the coming days. Hopefully he's not injured. Enable along with Almond Eye over 12 furlongs, Winx along with Almond Eye from a mile to 10 furlongs and Black Caviar from 5 furlongs to 7 furlongs are the four best turf mares that I've seen in my 30 years of being a fan.

[derekthesec]

Awesome by Enable. Looking forward to watching this horse run at York.

[idatekatemoss]

Richard Hoiles with the epic commentary! Never loved a woman as much as I loved Enable. Don’t tell my wife 😐😂👌🏼

[philipcarthy]

She is so very special handled brilliant by John godsen, love to see her win a third arc.

[shizam]

I adore Enable. Such Star quality. All crossed for the Arc. Eek!

[kelletman]

Not sure, but Brough Scott did say if the time was confirmed that would be the fastest time the last quarter was run in the race, given how many great horses have contested that race it would be quite remarkable if that was true.

[keybuckley]

Take nothing away from Enable 3x King George winner is some achievement.

However,


This race used to be prestigious. They need to up the prize money. It hasn't changed since the 60's.

[jimreynolds]

Impressive even though it was not competitive. It was more an exhibition on how a horse will race to instruction - she looked relaxed the whole way and Frankie knew what he had under him so it looked like a an easy piece of work but I'm hearing that the last two furlongs were a record so that's got to be good for Arc 3.0!!

[uhegbu]

As far as I know, Enable runs at Kempton on Saturday before another tilt at Longchamp and the Arc De Triomphe.

[johnnydallas]

Enable could have stayed on the bridle and still have won.. would have been a sight to see her quicken up without been shaken

[mattmillward]

The greatest horse ever and the greatest jockey ever. What a duo enable and frankie best in the world!!!

[vinpal]

What a champion! What are people’s thought on Stradivarius against Santiago?

[cmrcz]

Gosden wasn't playing... Her first up run at Sandown was only a little warm up!!! The small field was sad to see, but he also explained that. It's situation in the world with this virus and racing starting late there. What I took out of it was her cruising speed and the way she hit the line. She's come back better than ever. Reminded me of her as a 3yr old. Amazing mare and probably the best CV you will see in world racing

[jackward]

When a horse has won 11 G1s, including 2 Arcs, 3 King George's and a Breeders Cup, and wins like that, the performance can't be knocked. The field size was a joke, but saying "beat nothing" about a horse with her record makes you look a tit, particularly because both are G1 winners over todays distance.

[davidharrison]

Superb horse. Not sure how much credence today tho. Poor opposition tho. Def in top 5 all time mares. Allez france pawneese. Oh so sharp enable and dahlia

[markdoyle]

Just for clarity in not ideal conditions and only her second race this season she ran a 124 speed rating, that means a colt would need to run 127 or better to beat her here, and she was only pushed out at the end she had alot more in the tank. Once she hits 127 she is out of reach of any current horse in training and she will win the Arc this time.

[supersaiyanjin]

Honestly...this king george for me is still a fitness run to the main target...the ARC

She didnt even break a sweat

[balmainbuckobucko]

Where are all these group 1 UK middle distance horses I keep hearing about? it's a little embarrassing for the industry however taking nothing away from Enable she's a great mare.