Enable dominates in King George

Dual Oaks winner Enable wins at Ascot

Already at the top of the pecking order among her own age group, dual Oaks winner Enable has stormed to a decisive win against proven older horses in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Having strived all week to make sure he was able to make the weight aboard the John Gosden-trained filly, Frankie Dettori made certain his efforts were not in vain.

After racing just off the pace, the 5-4 favourite was sent on to the front approaching the two-furlong (400m) mark, much to the delight of the most of the rain-soaked crowd in the packed stands on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

Although Ulysses did his best to mount a serious challenge, he could not match the finishing effort of the winner, with Enable striding to victory by 4-1/2 lengths.

“All in all she’s as good a filly as I’ve ever trained,” Gosden said.

“I am great believer in this race being a meeting of the generations and she has proved it.

“She would have won on good ground. I love great fillies to train, they are just a pleasure to be around on the whole. She just takes the race by the horns.

“The Yorkshire Oaks is where we want to go and then freshen up and see where we are about a race on October 1 (Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe).”

While the past week had been a mentally draining one for Dettori, it was a sacrifice he was more than willing to make.

“I said to John after the Irish Oaks that I haven’t had a feeling like that since Golden Horn in the Arc,” he said.

“I knew she was up to the task, but I didn’t expect her to do that and she destroyed them. She is uncomplicated with a good mind.

“I lost 7lb (3kg) in six days. It was all water and fish basically for a week. It was boring, but I would not let anyone else ride her.”

Neither Idaho, who was third, nor his full-brother, last year’s winner Highland Reel, who finished fourth, could land a blow on this occasion, but trainer Aidan O’Brien was satisfied with their performances in defeat.

“I’m not going make any excuses, but obviously this ground isn’t ideal for Highland Reel,” he said.

“Idaho ran very well. He has a little bit of form with cut in the ground.”

Credit: PAA

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