Could Enable face Love in ‘race of the year’ on York’s Knavesmire?

It was always expected that John Gosden’s superstar would not meet the Aidan O’Brien-trained Love, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks, until the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in early October.

But the decisive manner of Enable’s win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes – jockey Frankie Dettori had time to nonchalantly look over his shoulder with two furlongs to go – suggests the ‘race of the year’ could take place in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Victorious in the 2017 and 2019 renewals of this historic race on the Knavesmire, the mile and a half trip is ideal for the six-year-old Enable who is now the winner of 11 Group One contests.

Yet, with O’Brien having already signalled that the Yorkshire Oaks is his preference for Love who is just three, and would receipt a significant weight allowance, both camps would be confident of victory.

“Love is a three-year-old and would get the weight [in the Yorkshire Oaks] but we took the benefit of that in 2017,” ventured Gosden.

“With Enable it could be a ground decision. If they got the rain and if the ground is soft, which it certainly can be at York, I would happily run in the Juddmonte International. If the ground is quick I would prefer to go over a mile and a half.”

Gosden clearly won’t be rushed into a quick decision – he’s always stressed that an unprecedented third Arc for Prince Khalid Abdullah’s majestic mare is the priority. But he also indicated that she will have another race before her date with destiny in the French capital.

“We are clear that we have York in our minds. She will be entered in both races [Juddmonte International and Darley Yorkshire Oaks] up there, all being well.

“That would be an idea if that suits perfectly but I would just like to get a race or racecourse gallop into her before the Arc.

“I don’t want to from the end of July until the first week of October just training her at home.

“She knows those gallops backwards and she would get bored. York could be really exciting with an exceptional Oaks winner (Love) going there as well.”

Despite the King George being reduced to three runners, Dettori was always in control on Enable, slotting in between the O’Brien pair of Sovereign and Japan.

Turning into the Ascot home straight, he had the pacesetting Sovereign covered and looked over his shoulder to see Ryan Moore in trouble on Japan.

From then, it was a question of how she would win and the marin of five and a half lengths was an emphatic one that ranks amongst the 49-year-old jockey’s many career highlights.

“It’s nerve-wracking when you are riding her because you want everything to go right,” said Dettori who matched Lester Piggott’s record seven King George wins.

“I love her so much. She has taken me to emotional heights no other horse has.

“I spoil her with Polos. Seven King George’s is magic. I remember when the Queen gave me the trophy for one of my early ones, either Doyen or Swain.

“I was talking to her and said this was my third or fourth King George, and she turned around to me and said ‘Lester won seven’ and put me straight back in my box.

“It is amazing to draw level, because he is a racing hero.”

Meanwhile Aspetar could take his place in the Juddmonte International after taking the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes for trainer Roger Charlton and jockey Jason Watson, beating Fox Chairman with David O’Meara’s Lord Glitters in third.

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