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Frankie Dettori eyes a record fifth Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory as he rides odds-on favourite Enable
Frankie Dettori is bidding for a record fifth Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory at Chantilly on Sunday and he has a great chance to do it as he rides odds-on favourite Enable.
Already a member of the elite band of riders with four wins to their name in the European middle-distance championship, the affable Italian will attempt to form his own exclusive club as well as cap off a memorable season for star filly Enable.
Enable's chances & Arc odds
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While each of Dettori's previous winners have been exceptional performers, none entered the race as an odds-on prospect, which is what the John Gosden-trained three-year-old is set to be in her bid for a fifth top-level success this season.
After a reappearance third at Newbury, the daughter of Nathaniel has conquered all those before her, with wins in the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, and, most impressively of them all, a demolition job against the boys at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The Khalid Abdullah-owned filly is 10/11 favourite with Sky Bet, who are paying four places instead of three for each-way bets, while Ulysses (7/1), Winter (7/1) and Order Of St George (10/1) are regarded her biggest challengers.
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Enable's 2017 record
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A quiet introduction to 2017 saw Enable make late progress to finish third behind stablemate Shutter Speed in a 10-furlong conditions race at Newbury in April.
- May 10 - 1st - Cheshire Oaks (Chester)
Ridden by Frankie Dettoti for the first time, Enable showed her Classic potential with an impressive victory in the Cheshire Oaks as she swept Aidan O'Brien's Alluringly aside with the minimum of fuss. Dettori said: "She's a very nice filly, who is improving all the time. She is beginning to know what she is doing. I liked the way she quickened and put the race to bed."
- June 2 - 1st - Epsom Oaks
Leading two furlongs out, Enable put her rivals to the sword to run out a facile five-length winner from Rhododendron in the fillies' Classic at Epsom, which was run in driving rain and a thunderstorm. Dettori said: "She pulled away in the last furlong and is a good mare. She's very good. She's still a bit of a frame, but I think she'll get better and better."
- July 15 - 1st - Irish Oaks (Curragh)
After tracking Bengala, Enable went about her business halfway up the straight and passed the post five and a half lengths clear of Rain Goddess in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Gosden said: "She's probably the best we've got. She's exceptionally good. She quickens and she stays well. We couldn't be more pleased with her."
Enable was crowned queen in the King George as she beats the colts and older horses in some style with another breathtaking display at Ascot, dispensing of the top-class Ulysses by four and a half lengths. Dettori said: "I haven't had a feel like that since Golden Horn. She's very good. I knew she was up to the task, but I didn't expect her to do that and she destroyed them.
- August 24 - 1st Yorkshire Oaks (York)
The Yorkshire Oaks proved another cakewalk as Enable made all the running at York and won unchallenged by five lengths. Gosden said: "She's somewhat special, I think at a mile and a half she is the best filly I've ever trained. She's exceptional and able to do it both ways, from the front and off the pace."
Frankie's Arc quotes
"The filly is well, but there are 18 runners in the race, anything can happen so you need a lot of luck. She has been very consistent all season. You have just got to keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best
"It was after Chester (Cheshire Oaks) we knew she was pretty special and she has turned out to be just that. Obviously I am nervous going into the race, but I am also excited. I just hope we turn up on the day well and hope for the best.
"I would rather be an odds-on shot than 20-1 going into the race."
Dettori's past Arc victories
LAMMTARRA (1995)
"It was nerve-wracking. He was an unbeaten horse and a Derby and King George winner. I was only 24 and there was a lot of pressure on me. I had lots of faith in the horse. The first Arc is probably the one you remember the most. It was amazing and it was a dream come true.
"As a kid the only races televised were the Derby, King George and Arc, so to win one was great and no words can describe it. The race was very straightforward. I sat close to the pace. I kicked really early and wanted to make sure they were in full flight before they came to me.
"He had a tremendous will to win and was a hard horse to pass and that proved to be the case. I remember looking across at that grandstand - it was amazing."
SAKHEE (2001)
"Sakhee was probably the one I was most confident about. He had worked incredibly well before the Arc. I rang my parents up and told them to come to France as I told them I was going to win the Arc. They said 'don't talk like that son', but I said 'just get over here'. He won by six lengths and it was never in doubt. The ground was soft and he loved it.
"After that he was beaten a nose in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was a lovely horse to ride as he was very easy."
MARIENBARD (2002)
"He was probably the surprise package. He had been working well and he had a great draw. I guess Sulamani was unlucky not to win. Everything fell right, from having a good draw to the split happening at the right time. He was a late developer. He is the one that surprised me the most, but I will take it.
"He got better as he got older. He won two Group Ones in Germany before the race so he came into it good form. It was probably not a vintage Arc, but he still won an Arc."
GOLDEN HORN (2015)
"He was the best one so far. I had a bad draw and I had to improvise and I went on my own. He was another Derby winner and again I had lots of faith in him. He came out of the stalls exactly like I thought and he won, which was great. It capped a fantastic season for me, him and John Gosden. As it is the one that is freshest in my memory, it is the one I remember the most. It was thrilling and it was the last one at Longchamp before the redevelopment.
"When I got the draw it was not ideal, but you have to come up with a plan and luckily it worked. It looked great as I won - it would have looked poor if I was beaten, but it was brilliant."