Coral-Eclipse Stakes |
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| Group 1, Sandown Park 14:10 £750,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 1f 209y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 6th July 2019 | |
1 Enable 4/6F
2 Magical 11/4
3 Regal Reality 17/2
8 ran Distances: ¾l, 2l, 2½l
Time: 2m 4.77s (fast by 0.73s)
10 straight wins for Enable as she lands the Eclipse
She's done it again! Enable wins the @Coral Eclipse under @FrankieDettori with Magical unable to reel in the dual Arc heroine pic.twitter.com/QHD9pAVfyZ
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) July 6, 2019
John Gosden’s Enable was returning from a 245-day break and tackling a a trip two furlongs short of her perceived best as she headed into the Group One event.
However, the result was never in doubt as the mare held off her old foe Magical to win an eighth Group One.
Rousing receptions are saved for only the very best – and those at Sandown on Saturday gave the superstar that is Enable the sort of welcome fit for a queen following her victory.
Many great warriors over both codes have graced the turf at the Esher track, but it is fair to say few will have come back to quite the unbridled delight that greeted the John Gosden-trained five-year-old, as she returned to action in style.
The roof-raising cheers as Enable hit the front were in turn replaced by a round of applause as she crossed the line, before Frankie Dettori’s name was sung to the tune of ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes on the walk to the packed winner’s enclosure.
Her owner Prince Khalid Abdullah may be a man content to live a private life away from the glitz and the glamour attached to her latest victory, but his pride and joy is fast becoming a horse of the masses, thanks to her sparkling CV and sheer ability to light up the racetrack.
His racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “Prince Khalid is a very private man, but he understands that horses like this become public property and that is to the benefit of the sport really.
“We need to have flag-bearers. We are very lucky to have Frankie aboard, as he is a fantastic advert to the game.
“For her to come back for another season at the top level is very exciting and something everyone can enjoy.
“This is what we all come into racing for, and this is what Prince Khalid breeds horses for. I think from that point of view you have to pinch yourself really.”
While it looked like Enable had never been away, given the manner of her three-quarters of a length victory over old rival Magical, for Gosden it was a performance he only believed she was capable of producing in recent weeks.
He said of the 4-6 favourite: “It is great to have her back, as it is eight months since she ran. It is testament to her, as it was not easy. It is like a boxer that has been off for a long time – getting back in the gym, working out and tightening up and getting the weight.
“She is very competitive and it didn’t show until the last 14 days. It is interesting that suddenly this edge came back. We got her back on her favourite gallop, the round gallop – she never went off for a racecourse gallop as I wanted to bring her here not fully wound up for a mile and a quarter.
“She was doing everything perfectly, but you could see that hunger wasn’t there – then it came.
“It was very apparent in the way she carried herself, and her behaviour. You go into her box and that is her space, you don’t mess with her otherwise she will split you in two.”
Having now steered Enable to glory on all but one of her 11 victories, it was a success that for three-times champion jockey Dettori was as sweet as the very first he enjoyed aboard her, over two years ago in the Cheshire Oaks.
The Italian – who rode a treble on the day – said: “I am as ecstatic as I was when I won my first race on her. She is a superstar and she is unbelievable now with the Eclipse on top.
“I would say so (best ridden). Her CV is the best I’ve ridden. You could have arguments that Golden Horn was better, but her longevity is incredible and let’s enjoy her while we have her.
“Not many horses get a crowd like that. She is a star and we build her up to be a star and she delivers and that is what we want.
“I never stop getting excited in the mornings and when I ride her in the morning, as she is very special. I really love her and she is great.
“She’s the queen of racing.”
Coral-Eclipse (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£750,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 1f 209y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm
1 Enable 5 9-4 John Gosden Frankie Dettori 4/6F
2 ¾ Magical 4 9-4 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore11/4
3 2 Regal Reality 4 9-7 Sir Michael Stoute Kerrin McEvoy 17/2
4 2½ Danceteria 4 9-7 David Menuisier Jamie Spencer 50/1
5 hd Mustashry 6 9-7 Sir Michael Stoute Jim Crowley 12/1
6 nk Hunting Horn 4 9-7 A P O'Brien Padraig Beggy 33/1
7 2¼ Telecaster 3 8-11 Hughie Morrison Oisin Murphy 10/1
8 nk Zabeel Prince 17 6 9-7 Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni 20/1
