Enable's British swansong: John Gosden insight as superstar limbers up for Arc

2.35 KemptonUnibet September Stakes (Group 3) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Enable towers above her rivals on form and should make short work of Group 3 opposition en route to the Arc.

As far as connections are concerned, all roads with Enable this summer have led to Longchamp on the first Sunday in October and a crack at winning a third Arc.

So far so good. John Gosden told everyone who was prepared to listen that racing’s wondermare wouldn’t be 100 per cent fit for her seasonal reappearance in the Eclipse.

Many didn’t listen as she went off a well-backed evens favourite before running a fine race in defeat behind Ghaiyyath.

That form has obviously worked out well, with the winner – imperious at a mile and a quarter – turning last month’s Juddmonte International at York into a procession.

Enable then did all she could reasonably be expected to do in crushing two inferior rivals in the King George at Ascot at odds of 4-9 to record a magnificent 11th Group 1 triumph.

Is she as good as she once was? That burning question is unlikely to be answered until October 4. The September Stakes, a race she won in 2018 before going on to land the Arc for a second time, offers a penalty kick – even under a Group 1 penalty – and there will be universal amazement if she doesn’t complete her Paris prep in smooth winning style.

Prince Of Arran (centre): trainer Charlie Fellowes will be looking for a bold show ahead of another trip to AustraliaCredit: Racing Photos

Prince Of Arran, the only other course-and-distance winner in the line-up, ran well to finish third to Nayef Road in the Sagaro Stakes.

He sank in the Royal Ascot mud behind Stradivarius in the Gold Cup and has been rested since, with another tilt at the Melbourne Cup firmly in mind.

Kempton isn’t the big day for him either, but trainer Charlie Fellowes will be looking for a bold show against Enable ahead of another trip to Australia.

Enable's British curtain call

Enable will get to prick her ears on entering the paddock of a British racecourse for the final time when she takes on six inferior rivals in her designated warm-up for another crack at a third Arc.

If the west London track had been allowed to host racegoers, there is no doubt fans would have flocked to the finale to say their goodbyes to the 11-time Group 1 heroine.

Trainer John Gosden, who is chasing a third straight win in the 1m4f feature, used the same contest two years ago for his stable star, who made a winning return from injury that day at the expense of classy rival Crystal Ocean.

Sent off at 1-2 in 2018 when in receipt of 8lb, Enable is this time a 2-11 chance to give away at least 4lb to half a dozen rivals, all of whom are rated 15lb or more below her.

The omens are good, however, as following her success in 2018 the daughter of Nathaniel went on to land the second of her two victories in Paris.

This time around, Gosden has had to call on all his experience to get Khalid Abdullah's mare match fit at the age of six, and she is a fresh horse having not run since winning a record-breaking third King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July.

Following that, Enable missed a potentially hard match against dual Classic winner and Arc favourite Love on the Knavesmire last month to wait for this.

Gosden said: "The September Stakes is perfectly scheduled in the calendar as it doesn't clash with the St Leger or Irish Champions Weekend and gives you about a month before the Arc.

"After she won the King George we decided to come here rather than have a hard race at York, and she has pleased us in her build-up, including when Frankie came and sat back on her on Wednesday morning."

David Simcock: 'The opposition is an irrelevance as Enable won't get beat'Credit: Edward Whitaker

As regards tactics, the champion trainer added: "Enable is very versatile as she can drop in or make the running, as she did when winning this race a few years ago and also in the Yorkshire Oaks.

"This is very much a prep race for something else and I'm sure the jockey will ride it as he finds it, as he usually does."

What they say

David Simcock, trainer of Almania
If he can get third in a Group race such as this it qualifies for him for races we are looking at in Australia where he's headed next. I think the opposition is an irrelevance as Enable won't get beat and it will be nice to be there to see her win. Hopefully, she can then go on and win a third Arc.

Rob Hornby, rider of Fox Tal
I've never ridden against Enable before, so it's great to be involved and I'm very much looking forward to the race. Thanks to Andrew Balding and King Power, The plan will be to settle him into the race to get the trip and hopefully hit the line strong. It's a shame there will be few people there to see Enable's last run on home soil, but these are the times we are in.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Prince Of Arran
Enable is a superstar, make no mistake, but we are looking forward to taking her on. We are very well aware of the task in hand but, like her, this is not our Derby. Prince Of Arran likes Kempton and is well drawn in stall one and could get a nice tow off Enable, who I'm guessing will make the running. It will be no disgrace finishing second to her and the plan then for our horse is to go into quarantine for Australia, where he will probably run in the Geelong Cup and then the Melbourne Cup.

Luca Cumani, owner of Fittocks Stud, owner of Kirstenbosch
We were hoping Enable would scare a few away as it is James Fanshawe's plan to come here and finish second or third and get some black type. It seems to have worked, so we hope for the best and [my wife] Sara will be lucky enough to go and see Enable win.

Richard Hughes, trainer of Punting
We’re under no illusions about the task Punting is facing. Some black type would be nice.

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