Ben Linfoot unpicks the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes result as Enable sauntered to a record-breaking third win in the race under Frankie Dettori.
ENABLE made history at Ascot on Saturday by becoming the first horse to win three renewals of the King George and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes in terrific style.
Much was made of the small field in the build-up to the race and four became three on the eve of the contest, when the 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck was ruled out following examination of his blood tests.
That meant it was the first Group One in the UK and Ireland to contain just three runners this century, but the magnificence of Enable somewhat made up for the small field.
The ground was still officially good to firm at race time, but driving rain in the moments before the contest continued into the race itself and it’s not the first time Enable has been at the centre of the storm, as she won her Oaks and first King George amid similar elements.
Yet again it was left to Aidan O’Brien to try and defeat the daughter of Nathaniel, but where Waldgeist and Ghaiyyath have triumphed Ballydoyle have thus far failed.
Sovereign is the 20th different horse from O’Brien’s to be defeated by John Gosden’s mare now, with him and Japan making it 35 failed attempts from the yard in total.
It was Sovereign who took them along at a good clip under William Buick and Frankie Dettori, winning a record-equalling seventh King George (with Lester Piggott), was more than happy to let him get on with it.
Indeed, he restrained Enable in the early stages and she was a little keen running down the hill into Swinley Bottom, where Sovereign opened up a six-length lead.
Japan tagged onto Enable’s tail, but as the bell rang on the turn for home it became very clear who was going to win, as Sovereign was ridden vigorously to maintain his lead while Japan was soon struggling to go the pace.
Enable, meanwhile, was tanking along. Dettori had a look over his shoulder to see where Japan was but he was toiling. Sovereign was still being bustled along in the lead, but Enable breezed past him on the bridle and at the furlong pole Frankie asked her to go and win her race.
As Japan hung in behind Sovereign, Enable kicked clear for an easy five-and-a-half length success and all roads now lead to Paris where she will bid for more history and a record third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
John Gosden said afterwards that he will want to run her somewhere between now and then, with her likely options seemingly the Juddmonte International, Yorkshire Oaks or a racecourse gallop.
With O’Brien aiming his brilliant Oaks winner Love at the Yorkshire Oaks, that usual penalty kick won’t be as appealing this year and Enable would have to give her 9lb on the Knavesmire, with the weight-for-age reduced to 7lb by the time the Arc comes along.
It would be somewhat of a surprise were they to clash before the Arc for which Enable and Love are now disputing favouritism at around 3/1. More bookies have Enable at the slightly shorter price of 11/4 than Love.
Time will tell if today’s more leisurely King George will help Enable in her quest for Arc immortality.
Last year she had to battle like hell to see off Crystal Ocean in a King George classic and she couldn’t match that form at Longchamp when beaten by Waldgeist on her day of destiny.
Perhaps this easier assignment will help her in the long run, and, while she didn’t quite show her very best form today, she didn’t have to, and she very much shaped liked she could’ve gone up another gear if required.
You sense she will have to against Love. Whether that will be at York, at Longchamp or at both tracks remains to be seen. But we have a six-year-old mare with 11 Group Ones under her belt and her longevity is now amongst her most prized qualities.
O’Brien will keep on trying to beat her. Love, the 21st cab off the rank, will likely be his best shot yet.
But today was Enable’s day, another challenge met. The signs are that she hasn’t regressed at six, and if Gosden can tune her up for a season’s best in Paris, then she remains the one to beat.
In that scenario, it will take something very special to get the better of her.
