Star mare Enable will make her eagerly-awaited return to racing in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 5.
Under the guise of leading trainer John Gosden, Enable has remained in training during the coronavirus lockdown and remains on track to contest a third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Having only been denied the historic third victory just 12 months ago, the six-year-old will again contest this year’s edition in a bid to become the first horse to win The Arc on three occasions.
Owned by Khalid Abdullah – Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe spoke positively about Enable’s chances this season.
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“Prince Khalid is happy she aims towards that race, (the Eclipse) which is obviously where she started last year,” he said.
While the Gosden stable are apprehensive of looking too far ahead in the racing schedule, the Coral-Eclipse gives both horse and trainer an opportunity to contest a Group 1 race to begin her campaign.
While an opportunity to send her to Royal Ascot was considered, the team have decided not to look beyond Sandown.
“It’s like everything, there’s always various decisions to be made and obviously the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the ultimate aim again, so we hope this is the best course.
“In these days it’s very much one race at a time.”
Enable won the 2019 edition of the Coral-Eclipse before going on to run second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to the Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist.