The Journey of Enable
There are few words that give credit to the incredible ENABLE but she is possibly the best horse since the almighty FRANKEL. A horse that has taken all racing fans by storm and stolen all of our hearts and even made Frankie Dettori cry after her last race in the UK, the Yorkshire Oaks. So where did it all begin and what can we expect for her final run ever...
The 5 year old star was born in February 2014 with a pedigree that is second to none. Breeding Sire: NATHANIEL Grandsire: GALILEO Dam: CONCENTRIC Damsire: SADLER’S WELLS Enable’s Sire is Irish bred and British trained NATHANIEL who also won the King George VI in 2011. She was foaled out of CONCENTRIC, a listed race winning Mare trained in France who is by the mighty SADLER’S WELLS. ENABLE was foaled at Juddmonte Farms in Newmarket, where her owner, King Abdullah, breeds and keeps a number of racing legends including FRANKEL, who now stands as a Stallion. She was sent to John Gosden to be trained and her career began as a two-year old with a win in a Maiden at Newcastle under Robert Havlin in the famous pink and green silks.
Her first and only race as a 2 year old was followed by a run in a Conditions Stakes at Newbury under William Buick as a 3 year old where she finished third in a field of six. After this, she never lost a race again and was to be ridden by Fankie Dettori from then on. The Frankie ENABLE partnership began at the Chesire Oaks where she beat ALLURINGLY by nearly two lengths and people started to notice we might have something special in the making. Her incredible turn of foot and keenness to run made her stand out from the rest of the runners.
Next on the agenda was the Epsom Oaks; which was a step up in trip to 1m4f, where she impressed everyone by flattening Aiden O’Brien favourite for the race, RHODODENDRON in the pouring rain. She then had a quick turn around heading to the Curragh to beat the Irish in the Irish Oaks. It was a textbook run as she pulled away from the field with style and ease with another win under her.
John Gosden kept her campaign strong and showed that she is happiest in training and running by sending her to the King George at Ascot two weeks later. She powered off in front of the field leaving ULYSSES for dust in the most dismal weather conditions once again. One month later was to be her final run in the UK of 2017 and she went out with a bang winning the Yorkshire Oaks, leading from start to finish and winning by an incredible 6 lengths! If anyone was in doubt of this horses talent and potential, then they were certainly putting those thoughts to bed after this run.
Not content with her incredible year she headed to Paris for the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe in Chantilly whilst Longchamp went under a huge renovation. Once again ENABLE amazed us all and won, making it Frankie’s 5th Arc and possibly her first of three!
2018 was a quieter year for ENABLE with niggles of an injury looming over her leading to only three starts in the season but three very big races to contend. She met her match with SEA OF CLASS for the second running of the Arc. The two made for a grueling battle and an incredible race so close it was hard to call. Gosden and her Owners then made the decision to send her to the Breeder’s Cup in Kentucky. The turnaround had been attempted many times but never done before her rival MAGICAL was to follow her and the race ended in a head to head between the two but the Queen ENABLE of course, came out on top and made history, winning the Breeders Cup turf and Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe in the same year!
A busy year followed with her season starting much earlier with the Eclipse at Sandown Park to kick things off. MAGICAL was back to take her down; or at least attempt to. MAGICAL who seems to be coming back stronger every year was hot on her tail but was no match for the Queen who literally breezed out in front away from the field. She then headed to Ascot to win another King George VI but this time with CRYSTAL OCEAN hot on her heels. This was to be her closest finish and the battle was intense but eventually ENABLE just got her head out in front, Frankie was exhausted physically and mentally after the race, saying he had ridden the race repeatedly in his head in the weeks approaching.
Finally what could be her last run on an English track she headed to York to claim the Oaks once again. Her old rival MAGICAL was back for more in the four horse race. She led again just like her last Yorkshire Oaks and as MAGICAL closed in on her, she found more and pulled away and then like she discovered another gear she left them all for dust. The race was emotional and everyone took a moment to appreciate the greatness of what we had just witnessed not just in that race but over the last three years. The emotion didn’t stop as Frankie just couldn’t contain his emotions and shed more than a few tears when interviewed by Oli Bell, saying it had really hit him this was the last time she would race in England. In all the years racing I have never known Frankie cry like this and it was truly humbling to see and left most of us in tears too. She then had a lap of honour round the parade ring where Frankie cam out to see her again and showed what a special horse she is to him and how bigger place she really holds in his heart.
So now we look to what could be her final race at the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe, SEA OF CLASS very sadly passed away earlier this year leaving JAPAN, MAGICAL and CRYSTAL OCEAN to take on the Queen. Who ever turns up on the day to take her on it’s sure to be a race that will go down in history and one you don’t want to miss live and in person. To say you saw the day ENABLE got the hat trick will be something you will cherish forever. Make sure you are there with us To see Enable go for the hatrick!