'She is still here'; Enable in for Coral-Eclipse with point to prove
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Enable is on course to make her much-awaited 2019 return Saturday the
Coral-Eclipse (G1) after 13 contenders were declared at Monday's confirmation stage. left in the 10-furlong highlight at today's confirmation stage.
Dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable has not raced since extending her unbeaten run to nine races in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.
Her trainer John Gosden is no stranger to winning the Coral-Eclipse, a 10-furlong race on turf, with a horse having a first start of the year, having achieved the feat with Enable's sire Nathaniel in 2012. The Newmarket handler has since triumphed in the Coral-Eclipse with champion 3-year-old colts Golden Horn (2015) and Roaring Lion (2018).
Connections bypassed a Royal Ascot start in favor of this race, but jockey Frankie Dettori assured the mare will be ready to fire, saying that “when you go to those kinds of races, you have to be fully showing up.”
“Riding Enable the last month, she’s coming along nicely. We stepped aside Royal Ascot because we felt that two more weeks would have been better for her. Preparation has gone well. Obviously she hasn’t raced since the Breeders’ Cup, but she’s a champion and I am very much looking forward to riding her again and to show the public that she is still here.”
Post time is 10:35 a.m. ET Saturday.
Ireland's 21-time champion Flat trainer Aidan O'Brien has five contenders, who are headed by 4-year-old filly Magical, who was second to Enable in the Breeders' Cup, and recent St James's Palace Stakes (G1) victor Circus Maximus, one of two 3-year-olds among the confirmations alongside G2 Dante Stakes victor Telecaster.
Magical completed an early season three-timer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh on May 26 before a creditable second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 19. O'Brien's team also includes Magic Wand and Hunting Horn, both successful at Royal Ascot in 2018, and last year's Irish St Leger (G1) victor Flag Of Honour.
Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute is doubly represented as he chases a record-breaking seventh Coral-Eclipse. The Freemason Lodge handler has left in Mustashry, victorious in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes (G1) on his penultimate start, and progressive 4-year-old Regal Reality, an easy winner of the Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) over the course and distance on May 23.
The acceptors also include Zabeel Prince (Roger Varian), who registered a first Group 1 success in the nine-furlong Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp, France, in May, and impressive Listed Wolferton Stakes victor Addeybb (William Haggas).
Danceteria (David Menuisier) finished third behind Regal Reality in the Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes, and the 4-year-old has since landed the La Coupe (G3) in good style at Longchamp on June 10.
Knight To Behold (Harry Dunlop), winner of the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2) at Deauville in August, completes the confirmations.
Coral's European-based odds are as of Monday:
6-5 Enable
9-2 Magical
5-1 Regal Reality
6-1 Circus Maximus
10-1 Telecaster
14-1 Mustashry
16-1 Zabeel Prince
25-1 Addeybb
33-1 Danceteria
40-1 Flag Of Honour
40-1 Magic Wand
50-1 Hunting Horn
66-1 Knight To Behold
"Although Enable could be facing opposition including Group 1 winners Magical, Circus Maximus and Mustashry, as well as the Dante winner Telecaster and the course and distance winner Regal Reality, the dual-Arc heroine is still a warm favorite to make a winning return to action this weekend," said Coral's David Stevens, "such is the respect we have for her."
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