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Enable could have one more race with British Champions Day under consideration

Enable (Frankie Dettori) after the ArcLongchamp 4.10.20 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Enable: finished sixth in the Arc but may run at Ascot on Saturday weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

Enable was back in action on the Newmarket gallops on Thursday morning just four days after her Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe disappointment and the signs are that she could yet have one last hurrah before retirement on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday week.

While an official announcement on her future is not expected from Juddmonte until Monday, the 11-time Group 1 winner looked none the worse for her Longchamp defeat when cantering on Newmarket's Warren Hill Polytrack.

Although the Arc was run on desperate ground, Enable may well not have taken that much out of herself when sixth to Sottsass as she could never land a blow in a messy race which was run at a dawdle.

A bid to go out on a high at Ascot would make sense as she is unbeaten at the track and completed a hat-trick in the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in July.

Enable (Frankie Dettori) wins an historic third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO StakesAscot 25.7.20 Pic: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Enable: could yet take in the British Champions Fillies & Mares StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker
Although British Champions Day has been staged on testing ground in the past, the going is unlikely to be as slow as it was in Paris and organisers have the option of a last-minute move to the inner track if needed.

If she does make one final curtain call, it is understood that is likely to be in the Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes over the same distance of a mile and a half rather than the shorter trip of the Qipco Champion Stakes.

Trainer John Gosden said: "Enable did one canter on Warren Hill this morning and seems fine after her trip to Paris. Whether she runs again or not is up to her owner Prince Khalid Abdullah and I think a decision about her future will be made after the weekend."

Enable has been introduced into the betting for the Fillies & Mares Stakes by three bookmakers in the past few days, including Paddy Power, who have made her their 13-8 favourite.

Spokesman Paul Binfield said: "We've had a few inquiries about Enable for Ascot recently and we have put her in at 13-8 for the Fillies & Mares. She didn't look to have too hard a race in France, which suggests she may run again. The Fillies & Mares would seem the most logical option and if she were to turn up on the day I would expect her to go off at odds-on."

Gosden has won two of the last four runnings of the Fillies & Mares Stakes with Journey (2016) and Star Catcher a year ago.


Read more fallout from the Arc:

'That's life' - Gosden rues pace and going but no decision on Enable's future

Sottsass lands Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Enable only sixth at Longchamp

Jessica Marcialis makes French racing history with Prix Marcel Boussac victory

Delight for Rossi as superb Sealiway proves far too good for the rest


Full Arc result


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David MilnesNewmarket correspondent

Published on 8 October 2020inNews

Last updated 16:37, 8 October 2020

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