Electrifying Enable makes it Classic double for Gosden and Dettori

Enable had hinted at Epsom last month that she is perhaps more able than any middle-distance three-year-old of either sex, and in becoming a dual Oaks winner at the Curragh on Saturday the hint became a stonking great announcement.

She completed the Epsom-Curragh Classic double with another high-class performance, winning the Darley-sponsored Irish Oaks by five and a half lengths and putting Frankie Dettori back in the Group 1 spotlight just two days after his return from injury.

Dettori, winning the race for the fourth time and landing his ninth Irish Classic, revealed afterwards that Enable was the prime reason he had returned to action this week at all.

After a trademark flying dismount, he said: “I probably came back a week too soon but the carrot I had in front of me was too good to resist. She was the carrot and I had to come back to ride her."

Dettori continued: “She's very good. I think she's improved since Epsom and the turn of foot she showed to take control of the race was very impressive.

"I was in second gear and when I asked her to go she flew. It was hands and heels from there. She’s got a great cruising speed for a stayer. She’s got everything.”

Enable powers clear of her rivals in the Darley Irish OaksCredit: Caroline Norris

Dettori had won the contest previously on Lailani in 2001, Vintage Tipple in 2003 and Blue Bunting in 2011, while Enable is the 14th filly to achieve the Oaks double and the first since Snow Fairy in 2010.

For trainer John Gosden she was a second winner of the race, after Great Heavens in 2012, and for owner Khalid Abdullah a third after Wemyss Bight in 1993 and Bolas in 1994.

Gosden said: “Enable is an exceptional filly and Frankie gave her a beautiful ride. We might take on the colts at some stage but she has come back with a nick on the outside of her off-fore and we’ll have to check that out.

“She’s in the King George and Yorkshire Oaks, but we’re not making any plans today.”

Job done: John Gosden in the Curragh winner's enclosureCredit: Alain Barr

Further down the road is the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and bookmakers now rate her the most likely three-year-old winner of Europe's most valuable contest, quoting her as second favourite behind Almanzor at no bigger than 7-1.

Seamie Heffernan, rider of runner-up Rain Goddess, said: “The winner is a queen but in fairness to Rain Goddess all she wanted to do was try to catch her.

"She's very honest, tough and genuine. She was a little bit keen so I presume that’s why Aidan [O'Brien] didn’t stretch her out in trip until she was doing things right.”

Eziyra finished two lengths back in third, delighting trainer Dermot Weld, who said: “She’s run a cracking race and I’m thrilled with her. I thought it was a very good renewal of the race."

The winner sat off leader Bengala in second place before quickening to the front early in the straight and powering away to score eased down.

The margin of victory was half a length more than her winning distance at Epsom, where she had fought off Rain Goddess' stablemate Rhododendron in a torrential thunderstorm.

Coronet, stablemate of the winner and star of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, stayed on from behind to finish fourth.

Irish Oaks result and analysis