Enable Coasts to Victory in Epsom Oaks

What does it take to break the stranglehold that Galileo and Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O'Brien have on the 2017 English and Irish classics? 

Well, it took Juddmonte Farms-homebred Enable, a filly from the first crop of Galileo's son Nathaniel from the yard of the British Isles' other headline-making trainer John Gosden. 

Shortly before post time, 10 sophomore fillies seeking classic glory in the Investec Oaks (G1) moved from Epsom's saddling enclosure to make their way to the starting gate. Among them was Kentucky-bred Daddys Lil Darling, a homebred for U.S.-based Normandy Farm and trainer Ken McPeek. Spooked by the thunder and lightning of the oncoming storm, Daddys Lil Darling bolted, and jockey Olivier Peslier bailed—the daughter of Scat Daddy was scratched, but was later reported to be fine.

Favored for the 12-furlong Oaks was Ballydoyle/Coolmore's Rhododendron, one of three O'Brien-trained fillies entered in the Oaks, ridden by Ryan Moore. Pocketfullofdreams (Invincible Spirit) acted as the pacesetter for her more high-profile stablemate, setting an easy gallop through the five-furlong uphill climb with Godolphin's Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (G1) winner Sobetsu (Dubawi) and William Buick giving chase along with Enable and Frankie Dettori in third.

With 11 of the furlongs complete in a driving downpour, Sobetsu took a short-lived lead over Enable and Rhododendron, who had joined the fray from fourth two furlongs from the wire. 

As Sobetsu failed to keep pace, Enable and Rhododendron inherited the lead and a brief point-of-honor duel before Dettori asked and Enable gave. With a determined turn of foot, Enable moved strongly through the final meters, prevailing by five lengths over Rhododendron, who was six lengths ahead of her rallying Ballydoyle stablemate Alluringly (Fastnet Rock). 

Time on the turf rated good was a course-record 2:34.13. 

Enable is a fourth-generation stamina-laden Juddmonte homebred.

Her dam, the Sadler's Wells mare Concentric, won the 10-furlong Prix Charles Laffitte at Chantilly on soft turf in 2007. Granddam Apogee (Shirley Heights) won the group 3 Prix de Royaumont over 12 furlongs at Saint Cloud before foaling three other stakes winners. Third dam multiple stakes-producer Bourbon Girl (Ile de Bourbon) placed three times in group 1 stakes at 12 furlongs, including runner-up finishes in the Oaks and the Gilltown Stud Irish Oaks (G1).

Enable's victory was Juddmonte's second in the Oaks behind Reams of Verse (Nureyev) in 1997.

"I'm so thrilled for Prince Khalid. His breeding operation and having another homebred classic winner is so vital for everything. We've got to enjoy this and think about the future," said Teddy Grimthorpe, Juddmonte's racing manager.

Gosden also celebrated his second Oaks win. He saddled Taghrooda (Street Cry) in 2014. 

There's a touch of irony in the Juddmonte victory in the English classic, as Enable is from the first crop of Galileo's other group 1-winning son, rather than their homebred, numerous-award-winning, undefeated stallion Frankel. While Frankel did draw first classic blood, it did not come in the homeland but in Japan when Soul Stirring took the May 21 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1).

Bred by Lady Rothschild in Ireland and raced in partnership with Newsells Park Stud, Gosden-trained Nathaniel won the Betfair King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Coral Eclipse Stakes (both G1) before retiring to stud at Newsells Park Stud. 

In the supporting group 1 on the Epsom card, Coolmore/Ballydoyle's world-traveler Highland Reel scored his fifth grade/group 1 victory when he took the Investec Coronation Cup (G1) over Frontiersman (Dubawi) and Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy  ).