Enable Set for British Swansong in September Stakes

Enable will get to prick her ears upon entering the paddock of a British racecourse for the final time when she takes on six inferior rivals Sept. 5 in the Unibet September Stakes (G3) at Kempton, her designated warm-up for another crack at a third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

If the west London track had been allowed to host racegoers, there is no doubt fans would have flocked to the finale to say their goodbyes to the 11-time group 1 heroine.

Trainer John Gosden, who is chasing a third straight win in the mile and four furlong feature, used the same contest two years ago for his stable star, who made a winning return from injury that day at the expense of classy rival Crystal Ocean. 

Sent off at 1-2 in 2018 when in receipt of eight pounds, Enable is this time a 2-11 chance to give away at least four pounds to half a dozen rivals, all of whom are rated 15 pounds or more below her.

The omens are good, however, as following her success in 2018 the daughter of Nathaniel went on to land the second of her two victories in Paris.

This time around, Gosden has had to call on all his experience to get Khalid Abdullah's mare match fit at the age of 6, and she is a fresh horse, having not run since winning a record-breaking third victory in the QIPCO King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in July.

Following that, Enable missed a potentially hard match against dual classic winner and Arc favourite Love on the Knavesmire last month to wait for this.

Gosden said: "The September Stakes is perfectly scheduled in the calendar as it doesn't clash with the St. Leger or Irish Champions weekend, and gives you about a month before the Arc.

"After she won the King George we decided to come here rather than have a hard race at York, and she has pleased us in her build-up, including when Frankie came and sat back on her on Wednesday morning."

Regarding tactics, the champion trainer added: "Enable is very versatile as she can drop in or make the running, as she did when winning this race a few years ago and also in the Yorkshire Oaks.

"This is very much a prep race for something else and I'm sure the jockey will ride it as he finds it, as he usually does." 

Gosden told everyone who was prepared to listen that racing's wondermare wouldn't be 100% fit for her seasonal reappearance in the July 5 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown. Many didn't listen, as she went off a well-backed even-money favorite before running a fine race in defeat behind Ghaiyyath.

That form has obviously worked out well, with the winner—imperious at a mile and a quarter—turning last month's Juddmonte International (G1) at York into a procession.

Enable then did all she could reasonably be expected to do in crushing two inferior rivals in the King George at Ascot.

Is she as good as she once was? That burning question is unlikely to be answered until Oct. 4, but there will be universal amazement if she doesn't complete her Paris prep in smooth winning style.

Prince of Arran, the only other course-and-distance winner in the line-up, ran well to finish third to Nayef Road in the Betway Sagaro Stakes (G3). He sank in the Royal Ascot mud behind Stradivarius in the June 18 Gold Cup (G1) and has been rested since, with another tilt at the Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) firmly in mind.

Kempton isn't the big day for him either, but trainer Charlie Fellowes will be looking for a bold show against Enable ahead of another trip to Australia.

"Enable is a superstar, make no mistake, but we are looking forward to taking her on," Fellowes said. "We are very well aware of the task in hand but, like her, this is not our Derby. Prince Of Arran likes Kempton and is well drawn in stall one and could get a nice tow off Enable, who I'm guessing will make the running. It will be no disgrace finishing second to her and the plan then for our horse is to go into quarantine for Australia, where he will probably run in the Geelong Cup and then the Melbourne Cup." 

Luca Cumani, owner of Fittocks Stud which will campaign Kirstenbosch, has another way of looking at it.

"We were hoping Enable would scare a few away as it is (trainer) James Fanshawe's plan to come here and finish second or third and get some black type," he said. "It seems to have worked, so we hope for the best and (my wife) Sara will be lucky enough to go and see Enable win."