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Enable A1 after Arc disappointment but no decision on retirement yet

Enable (Frankie Dettori) after the ArcLongchamp 4.10.20 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Enable: has come out of Sunday's Arc in good shape according to connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Enable was given a clean bill of health on Monday after coming up short in her bid for a historic third victory in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, although a decision on her immediate future has yet to be made.

Regular partner Frankie Dettori reported Enable to have struggled in the deep ground at Longchamp, while trainer John Gosden thought the lack of pace in the race was also against the six-year-old, who could finish only sixth behind Sottsass when bidding to become the first three-time winner of the race.

Gosden suggested after Sunday's race that a decision on Enable's immediate future would be unlikely for at least a week and nothing had changed in that regard on Monday, when she was reported to have taken her exertions in Paris well.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah, said: "She's fine this morning and has come out of the race well. No decision on her future has been made."

Enable and Stradivarius finish unplaced in the ArcLongchamp 4.10.20 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Enable (left) and stablemate Stradivarius finished unplaced in the ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker

After winning her second Arc in 2018, Enable successfully added the Breeders' Cup Turf and the November 7 Grade 1, staged at Keeneland this year, would appear the most feasible race to target if connections opt for a final run before her retirement.

She also holds entries in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 17, although the possibility of encountering ground similar to that at Longchamp on Sunday would no doubt be viewed as a negative by connections.

Enable's huge popularity was evident again on Sunday when almost 1.2 million people tuned in to ITV's coverage of the Arc. The figure was up 25 per cent from the previous year, while the average audience for Sunday's show climbed 22 per cent from 2019 to 682,000.

It emerged on Monday evening that Arc hero Sottsass, a three-time winner at the top level, had been retired following his Longchamp heroics.


Read more reports from Arc Sunday:

'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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Published on 5 October 2020inFrance

Last updated 20:18, 5 October 2020

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