Enable set to return in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown

Enable is set to return in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Picture: Racingfotos.com

John Gosden has pencilled in three successive QIPCO British Champions Series races for star mare Enable in the second half of the campaign.

Gosden will launch Enable‘s season next month in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown before aiming her at the QIPCO-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, at Ascot, and then Juddmonte International at York.

The Nathaniel filly had been thought likely to make her eagerly-awaited reappearance at Royal Ascot – but following a piece of work in Newmarket, it was decided, after consultation with Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe and jockey Frankie Dettori, to give her a little longer.

Her end-of-season aim remains an attempt at a historic third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory in Paris in October.

Gosden said: “She was having a good blow (after galloping on the Limekilns), and we didn’t want to rush to run over a mile and a quarter going down into Swinley Bottom (at Ascot).

“I always wanted to run in the Eclipse myself. I had dropped a hint before and Frankie and I, with Teddy, said we are going to the Eclipse because it would be a much better place to start her out.

“Hopefully then we can go to the King George, York, then hopefully the Arc.”