By Tom Frary
John Gosden could hardly have scripted a better 2020 for Clarehaven's standard-bearer Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Saturday's G3 Unibet September S. at Kempton turned out the predicted stroll all expected as she works towards her historic Arc attempt. Providing the only anxious moment for 1-14 backers when awkward from the stalls, the Juddmonte juggernaut was soon in command as Frankie showed his intent to keep it simple. Tracked throughout by Kirstenbosch (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), she went through the contest like a piece of strong exercise and there were seven lengths to spare over that unexposed 4-year-old at the line. “She did it very nicely, very smoothly,” her trainer said. “The track is riding deeper than usual and Frankie felt she didn't find it as easy to be as fluent on as she normally is. She normally springs off that, but it's just riding a bit sticky. Apart from that he was absolutely delighted with her. She has had a nice blow and a good day out. She was idling a bit in front and the race would have just brought her on nicely. She will have a nice easy 10 days and then we will build up to the Arc.”
Bar encountering the mighty presence of Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) when making her seasonal bow in the July 5 G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown, Enable's current campaign has gone like clockwork with her bringing up a unique treble in Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. July 25 that might stand unmatched for some time. Gosden now has to deliver her for her date with destiny on the first Sunday next month. “She came close last year and we will do our best to put that right, but what she has done already with all the races she has won is pretty extraordinary,” he added. “She was fresh to saddle and was quick with her hind feet. She was just full of herself. I think down at the start didn't help as she was waiting for the other horse to be reshod. Frankie floated up there and she had a nice race–perfectly what you want, with hands and heels.”
“I think it was probably three-quarters mental and one-quarter physical preparation today,” he continued. “This was as much to mentally let her let a little steam off and chill her and give her 10 days and build her up to the Arc. The race will just sharpen her mental attitude. She found it difficult to get to her racing weight and I didn't want to push her in any way. She got tired in the last furlong in the Eclipse, but ran a lovely race and then came back in the King George. That was the most important part, as her metabolism changed. She is wiser now and a 6-year-old mare is different to a 3-year-old filly. She is robust and she does have that mental strength. The great tennis players get to that fifth set and when they are two sets all it is mental strength that wins it above anything else.”
Looking ahead to the opposition at ParisLongchamp, Gosden has his eye in particular on Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “We have got tons of respect for the Oaks winner, who is a brilliant filly and is getting the weight allowance Enable did when she was that age,” he said. “You would love to see the ground good-to-soft, you don't want to see it bottomless but it is next to the River Seine and we are in the autumn.”
Enable's finale in her native country came just 24 hours after her 2-year-old half-brother Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) put in such a promising debut when second at Ascot. The listed-winning and group-placed dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler's Wells) also has a yearling full-brother to Enable and by the time he is enjoying his first outing it could be that she has a second Classic winner. Also the dam of the G2 Prix de Pomone runner-up Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and the G3 Musidora S. runner-up Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), she is a daughter of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Apogee (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and a full-sister to the G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Dance Routine (GB). She is in turn the dam of the multiple top-level winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the second dam of the GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup winner Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and last year's G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano winner Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
Saturday, Kempton, Britain
UNIBET SEPTEMBER S.-G3, £56,000, Kempton, 9-5, 3yo/up, 11f 219y (AWT), 2:30.33, st/sl.
1–ENABLE (GB), 135, m, 6, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl, by Ile de Bourbon
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £31,758. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & Fr at 11-14f, MG1SW-Eng & Fr, G1SW-Ire & GISW-US, 18-15-2-1, $14,062,824. *1/2 to Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), MGSP-Fr; and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kirstenbosch (GB), 128, f, 4, Mount Nelson (GB)–Kassiyra (Ire), by Kendor (Fr). (22,000gns RNA Ylg '17 TAOCT). O/B-Fittocks Stud (GB); T-James Fanshawe. £12,040.
3–Prince of Arran (GB), 131, g, 7, Shirocco (Ger)–Storming Sioux (GB), by Storming Home (GB). O-Saeed Bel Obaida; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. £6,026.
Margins: 7, HD, 8. Odds: 0.07, 33.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: Almania (Ire), Punting (Ire), Fox Tal (GB). Scratched: Tinandali (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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