Arc favourite Enable pleases Gosden as return to racecourse grows nearer

Coronet was unable to deny Sir Michael Stoute his dominance of the King George but trainer John Gosden was warmed earlier in the day by the wellbeing of fellow filly and stablemate Enable.

Last year’s King George and Arc winner has not raced since winning at Chantilly, but that day is getting closer, although Gosden insisted he is not sure how close.

He said: “I was very pleased with her this morning when she was doing a half-speed. She’s in top nick but I’m not going to name a race yet. It’s too soon. The filly can tell me; I’m not going to set dates.

“The most stupid thing you can do is force a horse. She’s had time off for an issue and what you musn’t ever do is name a race and try to fit the foot to the shoe. That’s the wrong way around. But she’s been pleasing me. This morning, nearly too much.”

Enable is entered in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on August 23, which is now the target for Coronet, who finished an honourable, if nine-lengths-distant, third behind Poet’s Word and Crystal Ocean under Olivier Peslier.

Gosden said about Coronet, who finished second to Enable in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks: “The ground was a bit quick for her. But she’s finished third in the King George and, for a filly, that’s pretty damned impressive. We’ll freshen her up and go to the Yorkshire Oaks.”

Watch the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes replay here, with full result and analysis

A further three lengths back was Salouen, who could not repeat the form of his Coronation Cup second when nearly beating Cracksman.

Trainer Sylvester Kirk said: “I got excited for a moment but the fact they were taking each other on up front worried me. At Epsom when he did his thing he just relaxed in front but when Rostropovich went on we were half in trouble because when he follows he does more rather than at the front, where he just relaxes and gallops.

“Silvestre [de Sousa] says he'll be better on softer ground. We’ll find a little race somewhere and try to get a win and build his confidence. He could drop in trip.”

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