Enable reigns again, topping Magical in Coral-Eclipse

Little appears to have changed since 3/4 of a length separated Enable and Magical in last year's Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Back to the races in Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown, the great Enable reigned again despite another highly respectable performance by Magical as the two hit the wire the same margin apart.

The John Gosden-trained daughter of Nathaniel, 5-year-old Enable commenced a campaign in which she’ll look for a historic third straight victory later this year in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Enable bided her time in the 1 1/4-mile Coral-Eclipse, sitting off Hunting Horn, the expected pace setter. Magical, an Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate of Hunting Horn, first came under a ride in the long Sandown stretch before Frankie Dettori moved on Enable, who didn’t appear short off a layoff dating back to November.

"He was keen to sit there and she's an exceptional athlete," Gosden said, describing Enable as 85-90% fit for Saturday's race.

“You don’t win an Eclipse if you’re too short," he added.

Enable was off at 1-2 on the U.S. tote. Behind Magical was Regal Reality as eight went postward in the Coral-Eclipse, which marked Enable’s first race at Sandown.

Enable, who's campaigned by Juddmonte Farms, is now 11-for-12 lifetime with eight of those scores in Grade/Group 1 company. Meanwhile the 4-year-old daughter of Galileo, Magical, made her fifth start of the season with three wins and now two seconds.

Racing fans may have more to look forward to in this budding rivalry between fillies and mares who have made easy work of the boys. Gosden said Ascot's July 27 King George IV and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) -- a race Enable won in 2017 -- is next on the agenda.