Gosden Considers Breeders' Cup Bid for Enable

Enable could grace the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs next month if she comes through the Oct. 7 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in good shape, trainer John Gosden said Oct. 5.

The 4-year-old Nathaniel filly was considered for the trip to the meeting a year ago after registering five straight group 1 wins, including her victory in the Paris showpiece, but she did not make the journey to Del Mar.

Enable, who is under consideration for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), must first face the rigors of Longchamp Sunday, where connections think she is a worthy choice. The 2017 Arc winner returned from a layoff with a sparkling score Sept. 8 in the 188bet September Stakes (G3) on the synthetic track at Kempton Park, her lone start since taking the Arc a year ago. 

Gosden said: "On her form of last year, Enable deserves to be at the head of the market, but the Arc is not the kind of race you can have a short-priced favorite in and be totally confident about the outcome.

"It's not been an ideal year, but she's had a prep race and there is some advantage to being a fresh horse. Her draw (stall 6) is fine. It's not a Golden Horn draw, which was on the outside, and she usually breaks alertly, which is important. She made the running last time and is versatile in regards to tactics, but I'll leave that to her and the jockey (Frankie Dettori)."

Khalid Abdullah's filly, who is at odds of 11-10 for the Arc, could have her campaign extended to include the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Turf, a race Gosden has come close to winning with The Fugue (second in 2013) and Golden Horn (runner-up in 2015).

"If Enable runs well and is in good order after the Arc, strong consideration would be given to the Breeders' Cup Turf," Gosden said. "She began her season only in September, so it makes sense to take a fresh horse out there if she's in good shape.

"We also have Roaring Lion in there, but we'll see how he is after he's run on QIPCO Champions Day (Oct. 20). He's been on the go since February, so we'll see how he is nearer the time. We still don't know which race he'll be running in at Ascot; whether it's the QEII (G1) or the Champion Stakes (G1) will be ground dependent."

Roaring Lion is being considered for the Turf or the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Gosden also confirmed undefeated juvenile Too Darn Hot, the even-money favorite for the Oct. 13 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, is not under consideration for a Breeders' Cup run. 

"We are looking forward to the race, and hopefully it will be good ground so it's fair to everyone," Gosden said of the Dewhurst. "Win, lose, or draw, he won't be going to the Breeders' Cup but will instead be put away for the Two Thousand Guineas (G1)."