King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO |
|
| Group 1, Ascot 15:35 £1,150,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 29th July 2017 | |
1 Enable 5/4F
2
Ulysses 9/1
3 Idaho 8/1
4 Highland Reel 9/2
10 ran Distances: 4½l, ¾l, 4l
Time: 2m 36.22s (slow by 7.72s)
Ready, Willing, Enable
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Taken into the lead two furlongs out by Frankie Dettori - who wasted down to do the weight of 8st 7lb on the John Gosden-trained filly - the 5-4 favourite smashed the opposition in real style.
Sir Michael Stoute's Eclipse victor Ulysses did his best to close as the rain poured down, but Enable was far too strong in the Qipco-sponsored mile-and-a-half showpiece, scoring by four and a half lengths. Idaho was third for Aidan O'Brien.
Dettori said: "I lost 7lb in six days, but it was worth it. She is a superstar.
"It means a lot to me, I missed the whole of Royal Ascot (with injury) and to come back to the place I love so much, it's great.
"She's as good as I've ridden, to win the King George by four lengths - she is the real deal and I love her so much.
"I'll have a big dinner tonight, that's for sure!"
Gosden said: "The facts show she can do it on any ground.
"Frankie was bold. She breaks well and is very business-like.
"It wasn't the plan to be that close, but she was getting weight from the older horses.
"I thought Ulysses made a brave run at her and I thought Maverick Wave did a beautiful job pacemaking. All in all she's as good a filly as I've ever trained - Taghrooda was brilliant to win this and she's following Dahlia and Pawneese.
"I've always planned the Yorkshire Oaks, then pause, stop and think - no trials and then possibly the one in Paris (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe)."
He added: "Frankie has worked hard, the hunger is still there which is wonderful at his age."
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes
(Sponsored By Qipco) (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£1,150,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (7) | Enable 5/4f | L Dettori 8-7 |
J H M Gosden | 3 | |
| 2nd | (8) | 4½ | Ulysses (IRE) 9/1 | Jim Crowley 9-7 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 4 |
| 3rd | (3) | ¾ | Idaho (IRE) 8/1 | J A Heffernan 9-7 |
A P O'Brien | 4 |
| 4th | (4) | 4 | Highland Reel (IRE) 9/2 | R L Moore 9-7 |
A P O'Brien | 5 |
| 5th | (1) | 2¼ | Benbatl 14/1 | Oisin Murphy 8-10 |
S bin Suroor | 3 |
| 6th | (9) | 6 | Desert Encounter (IRE) 33/1 | S M Levey 9-7 |
D M Simcock | 5 |
| 7th | (6) | s.h | My Dream Boat (IRE) 16/1 | A Kirby 9-7 |
C G Cox | 5 |
| 8th | (10) | 2 | Maverick Wave (USA) 100/1 | G Lee 9-7 |
J H M Gosden | 6 |
| 9th | (2) | 11 | Jack Hobbs 11/2 | W Buick 9-7 |
J H M Gosden | 5 |
| 10th | (5) | 4½ | Sixties Song (ARG) 33/1 | G Mosse 9-3 |
A Dassie | 4 |
