Enable to Target Second Yorkshire Oaks

Enable will have what may be her final run on British shores in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1) this month before bidding for an unprecedented third triumph in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). 

Connections have decided the best way to prepare for her date with destiny at ParisLongchamp will be on the Knavesmire Aug. 22 in a race she won after claiming a first King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) as a 3-year-old. She beat Coronet by five lengths that day before going on to beat Cloth of Stars by 2 1/2 lengths in the Arc at Chantilly.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, told the Racing Post: "Having talked to Prince Khalid and John Gosden, the plan is to go to the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. She won that race on her way to her first Arc, so there's a good bit of precedent there, and John didn't want to go back to 10 furlongs (for the group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes).

"Bearing in mind the main target has always been the Arc, we think this is the best route."

The dual King George winner had the option of the International Stakes, for which she was the 6-4 favorite, or skipping York entirely and heading straight to Longchamp.

Explaining the decision further, Grimthorpe added: "We have to do what's right for her, and we always said we hoped she'd go to York."

Last year, Enable joined Ksar, Motrico, Corrida, Tantieme, Ribot, Alleged, and Treve as a dual winner of Europe's richest race, and her whole season has revolved around her bid for a historic third successive win.

York's chief executive and clerk of the course, William Derby, unsurprisingly welcomed the decision to send Enable to the Ebor meeting before a trip to Paris.

"It's fantastic news, and we're delighted and honored to have a filly such as her," he said. "She's won the race before, and having reclaimed the King George, it will be great to see her try and do it again. It was an amazing performance when she won it, and for her to try and double up on that will be a great thrill. I'm sure racing fans throughout the country will want to see her on what looks to be her last race in Britain."

Three runners Enable could face at York include Pink Dogwood and Magic Wand—both trained by Ballydoyle master Aidan O'Brien—and Antonia de Vega from the barn of Ralph Beckett.

As a 3-year-old, Pink Dogwood would get nine pounds from Enable. Having already finished second to Enable's stablemate Anapurna in the Investec Oaks (G1) and third in both the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) and the Kerrygold Irish Oaks (G1), she could provide a stern test.

Magic Wand, last year's Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks and Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) winner, has fallen just short at the highest level but has four seconds in group 1 company so is clearly useful. Her King George result—last of 11, beaten 50 lengths—was too bad to be true. Should she bounce back, she may get closest to Enable.

Antonia de Vega won the listed Abingdon Stakes on her only start so far this year (she missed the Irish Oaks due to the ground), and the horse she beat by four lengths at Newbury has won since. She is open to improvement and could yet emerge as a challenger.