Epic King George clash no penalty kick for 4-6 Enable says Gosden

Enable is in top order for her biggest test of the year so far in Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot, a race billed on Monday morning as a "British version of the Arc" by her trainer John Gosden.

The five-year-old, herself a dual winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, looked in good shape when cantering in front of the media on Warren Hill in Newmarket.

Enable, who registered her eighth Group 1 win when overcoming old rival Magical on her seasonal return in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown this month, was one of 11 confirmations for the race on Monday and is 4-6 to follow up in a contest she won as a three-year-old in 2017.

Gosden said: "Enable worked under Frankie on Saturday and seems happy and well for what is a tall order. She won the King George as a three-year-old getting the weight, but it's a little different when you're older.

"Suddenly, you have a Derby winner coming at you in Anthony Van Dyck, who is getting the weight, and also the wonderful Crystal Ocean who ran a blinder in it last year and won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes in good style. I can tell you, this is no penalty kick."

In addition to Enable's success two years ago, Gosden has won Ascot's midsummer highlight with Nathaniel (2011) and Taghrooda (2014), and he said of the Khalid Abdullah-owned mare: "The battle of the generations is what the King George is all about – it's like a British version of the Arc.

"There was a time when it had become a four-year-old only race but not this year. I see the betting industry have put Enable in at a price that they don't want anyone backing her.

"I was told that if Turgenev had won at Royal Ascot there could have been a couple of institutions with rather a large hole below the waterline so Enable's price is not reflective of her chances but reflective of the bookmakers trying to protect themselves if she does win. I think she should be more like an even-money chance."

Enable, who her trainer said is "highly unlikely" to remain in training at six, started her campaign later than planned at Sandown after failing to show her customary sparkle at home in late spring.

John Gosden: happy with Enable's condition before Saturday's King George at AscotCredit: Chris Bourchier

He added: "We missed Epsom and Ascot, and it was only when she got on the Limekilns round gallop before Sandown that she showed her old zest. Before that she was like an old heavyweight doing the roads and going in the gym and going through the motions."

On the special qualities of the daughter of Nathaniel, he added: "What makes Enable so special is that she's got great physique, great depth and has a wonderful mind on her. Frankie says when she stretches in the latter part of a race he can actually feel his legs move.

"Another great attribute is that she has a lot of tactical speed as she showed at Sandown and is effective at a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. We'll see how she gets on this weekend but she could possibly drop back for the Juddmonte International at York [on August 21] and then the Arc."

If Enable was to tackle the 1m2½f test on the Knavesmire, it would help Gosden keep his remarkable collection of fillies apart which include recent Oaks winners Anapurna and Star Catcher.

He said: "Star Catcher came back from her win at the Curragh yesterday and has eaten everything put in front of her. Frankie advised us to miss the Epsom Oaks with her after she'd won at Newbury in the spring and go straight to the Ribblesdale. That came off and she won in good style on Saturday. She'll have a break now and we'll have a look at the Prix Vermeille in September."

Star Catcher and Frankie Dettori celebrate winning the Kerrygold Irish OaksCredit: Patrick McCann

Anapurna has not run since overcoming Pink Dogwood at Epsom in June but could also head to York next month.

Gosden added: "We have an interesting array of fillies this year and Anapurna is pointing towards the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks [on August 22] where we could also run Coronet and Lah Ti Dar.

"One thing that has given us a huge amount of pleasure this year is the fact that we've had six individual Group 1 winners for six different owner-breeders.

"We'll be going for another with Mehdaayih at Goodwood. She was unlucky in the Oaks and quickened very well to win a Group 2 in France last time. The plan is to take her to the Group 1 Nassau Stakes [on August 1]."

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