Enable prevails in epic King George battle to leave Frankie drained but joyous

John Gosden’s eyes said it all. After one of the greatest and most pulsating races ever seen, one in which the magnificent champion Enable was forced to dig into her very core to find what was needed to defeat Crystal Ocean, the champion trainer was wide-eyed with adrenaline and awe.

Gosden does not normally look like that after races but what he – and the millions watching around the world – had witnessed was not a normal race, not even close.

It was an epic. A battle between two brilliant horses and jockeys that evoked memories of some of the finest races ever run. Perhaps it even was the finest race ever run.

“You had the best older horse and the best older filly taking on horses with that level of quality and they outclassed the whole field,” Gosden said. “It was a proper King George – what more could racing have asked for?

“She showed a lot of guts. Crystal Ocean said to her ‘I’m going to win this’ and she said back ‘no, I am’, and she really showed mental toughness and so did he.”

Battle for the ages: Enable gets the better of Crystal Ocean in a thrilling fight to the lineCredit: Edward Whitaker

Having been drawn widest of all in stall 11, Enable was held wide by her opponents as a blistering pace was set, forcing Frankie Dettori to take her back twice to find a comfortable position towards the rear.

Dettori forfeited ground to his rivals, but turning for home he knew Crystal Ocean was the only horse he needed to beat. With a quarter of a mile to run, Frankie said ‘go’.

The champion mare engaged the overdrive which had taken her to glory in two Arcs, three Oaks, a Coral-Eclipse and a Breeders’ Cup but Crystal Ocean, the embodiment of tenacity and determination, would not lie down.

He fought for all his worth, he edged his head back in front of the wondermare and he called on all he had as the two warriors pulled away from their rivals. Yet Enable, the supreme being that she is, would not wilt either and the victory was hers as unbridled joy erupted among the energised and appreciative crowd.

Dettori, so often frenetic in victory, was physically and emotionally drained by the experience, although his legions of fans were still treated to an enthusiastic flying dismount.

“I don’t want too many races like that because I’m absolutely exhausted,” he said. “In all my career that was the hardest-fought big race I’ve had, with two champions fighting it out.

“Give credit to Crystal Ocean, he put it out there for me and it was an amazing race. He was a bit like one of those flies that wouldn’t go away and he was always there annoying me to the line.

"I knew he was the one to beat as he’s very strong around here and once I put my head in front I thought I was going to see it out. In fairness he served it up to me and we had a right titanic battle, but I always had the edge.”

Gosden felt Enable’s neck margin of victory was possibly reduced by having to go earlier than planned, and said: “I said to Frankie before the race to stay cool and he did. I thought he hit the front too soon and I kept saying to myself, ‘no, no wait’, although I’m sure the great jockey will tell me why he moved then.”

Enable was pushed out to 7-4 favourite (from 6-4) by Betfair for her attempt at an historic third win in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, and with her final stage drawing ever closer Dettori was eager to saviour the moment.

“She’s extraordinary and she even surprised me today,” he said. “She’s an amazing horse in every way: her ability, her courage, how uncomplicated she is. I don’t know what to say, I love her.

“She gives me emotions that no other horse has ever given to me in my life and she’s only with me for another three months, so I’m trying to capture and enjoy every moment as we’re probably only going to see her two more times. Let’s enjoy her because she’s a superstar.”

Look of love: Frankie Dettori casts an admiring glance at his King George heroineCredit: Mark Cranham

York, for the Yorkshire Oaks or the Juddmonte International, and Paris had been connections’ plan for Enable, although whether she races again in Britain will depend on the after-effects of Ascot and the potential impact of another race on her Arc challenge.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Khalid Adbullah, said: “What more can you say about her? That was a race for the ages.

“I think we’ve given up pre-guessing her. Last time we thought she’d had a hard race she was bucking and kicking the next day and had eaten up and everything. The main target is the Arc and if we thought it was best not to go to York then that’s fine – we need to do what’s best for her.”

If this is the final time we see Enable on these shores then what a memory she, and Crystal Ocean, have left us. Our eyes will be blessed to ever see something as spectacular again.

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