Enable returns with smooth success at Kempton

Enable powers clear at Kempton. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Star filly Enable bounced back with a bang as she gained a fluent all-the-way triumph in the 188Bet September Stakes at Kempton Park.

The John Gosden-trained four-year-old, whose five Group 1 wins last year included three QIPCO British Champions Series triumphs, had been absent since winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October but she looked anything but rusty as she made all under Frankie Dettori and beat Crystal Ocean, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth runner-up, by three and a half lengths.

She will now head to ParisLongchamp next month to defend her Arc crown. The daughter of Nathaniel also has two entries on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on october 20.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled with her, it was hands and heels,” Gosden said. “She will come on, she came here 80 per cent and the race will put her right. She is at a good place mentally and the race will put her right.”

He added: “She has found it (being out of action) more frustrating than us. It really annoys her when the other horses go out on the (Newmarket) Heath to canter and gallop and she has to stay behind – she doesn’t like that at all.

“I was confident she would do that, as she is high class. She loves racing and training. She is a pleasure train. It’s been desperately frustrating for her, because she gets really angry.

Dettori reported Enable felt “as good as ever”. He said: “It gives her more credibility with Crystal Ocean being in the race.

“Her home work had been good, but we hadn’t gone beyond a mile at home and there was always that little bit of doubt in my mind if she was 100 per cent fit, but she is trained by a master. You can always rely on him.

James Horton, assistant to Sir Michael Stoute, the trainer of Crystal Ocean, said: “We were very pleased with him. We’ve given a top-class filly 8lb, which is hard to do.

“He is a horse that can’t be raced too regularly and that’s the main reason why we came here today, but we were keen to have a race between the King George and whatever his autumn target is and this race fell right.

“I think he is probably a better horse on turf.”

Crystal Ocean is entered in the QIPCO Champion Stakes on Champions Day.