The temporary suspension of racing in many parts of the world is causing uncertainty for trainer and racing managers alike, and one horse racing fans will be longing to see out this season is the dual Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Her owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah surprised many when anouncing that Enable would stay in training as a 6-year-old, and the hopes are now that her season will not be too interrupted. The great mare's year will of course revolve around her attempt to win the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for a third time, but in the meantime it is unclear which path she will take back towards Paris.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Prince Khalid's Juddmonte operation, is pleased with her build-up so far, however, as he awaits news of an adjusted calendar for Pattern races this summer.
“Enable is absolutely fine. She's done well over the winter—she looks good and seems very happy,” he said. “She's just cantering away at the moment. It's obviously very difficult to make any plans. Before this wretched thing started it was in her hands, whereas now it's in the lap of the gods to a certain extent.”
He added, “It will be up to the BHA [British Horseracing Authority] to decide on a revised race programme when they are able to do so. Everything is going to be concertinaed, and we'll just have to go along with it. All we can do for the time being is hunker down and hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”
Prince Khalid also has two notable Classic hopefuls among his horses in training this season: the Roger Charlton-trained G1 Bet365 Fillies' Mile winner Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and, in Ireland, the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Siskin (First Defence), trained by Ger Lyons.
“Quadrilateral is in good form and had a very good winter,” said Grimthorpe of the ante-post favourite for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, which at the moment is scheduled to be run on May 3.
“Roger is very pleased with her progress and from the various shots I've seen of her, she does look to have done well physically.”
He continued, “Ger took Siskin to Naas the other day, and I'm told he enjoyed himself. I don't think it was a searching piece of work, and it was on heavy ground with a headwind, but he went nicely, and Ger was pleased with him.
“With him, we're going to have to wait and see what his best trip will be, because he hasn't raced beyond six furlongs yet. Hopefully we'll get the opportunity to find out.”
Grimthorpe also issued an update on last season's St Leger winner, the unbeaten Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was laid low with a serious bout of peritonitis during the winter.
He said, “[Logician] had this infection, and we've taken all possible precautions to ensure he has as clean an environment as possible. He's okay now, but he hasn't done much yet and wouldn't be ready to run for a while anyway.
“I suppose for him, if anything, the diminishing of the season could be a positive.”
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