Enable brings Golden Horn-level anticipation to Breeders' Cup
Tuesday's news that 4-year-old filly Enable will bring her talents stateside and take on the boys in the Breeders' Cup Turf resulted in rejoicing among racing fans in the U.S. and Europe alike. The decision came nine days after she scored her Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe win, a feat accomplished only eight times in the race's history.
Enable will likely head postward as the Breeders' Cup Turf favorite, but regardless of the result, it's refreshing to see such a well-regarded horse taking a sporting chance in another big race. Fans should celebrate connections bringing Enable to the United States, especially after injuries and retirements have dulled the buzz surrounding this year's championships.
Over the last few months, top horses across all divisions were retired from racing or removed from Breeders' Cup consideration.
Chief among them, of course, were Triple Crown winner Justify and 2-year-old champion Good Magic. Elate is also out of the Distaff picture, while the early hyped 2-year-olds Instagrand and Roadster are both our of training. Across the pond, talented horses Alpha Centauri and Saxon Warrior were also retired due to injury.
With her confirmation Tuesday, Enable provides some of that lost star power.
The 2017 European Horse of the Year has only lost once in her 10-race career. Enable was also the rated the world's best 3-year-old filly in 2017 along with being ranked the fifth-highest ranked horse in the world.
Enable's impending trip to America reminds of another John Gosden trainee who was among the best of a generation, and also a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner. When Golden Horn was announced for the 2015 Breeders' Cup Turf, racing fans showed similar excitement knowing they'd see a rare kind of talent run in American turf.
In both cases, connections didn't need to make the attempt, and Golden Horn actually ended up second to Found at Keeneland. In Enable's case, she has little left to prove and could have gone straight to a career as a broodmare. Instead, racing fans can celebrate following a depressing run of news leading up to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.