Enable lands back-to-back Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe wins for Dettori

Enable landed back-to-back Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes for jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer John Gosden, holding on from fellow British raider Sea Of Class in a thrilling climax to the Paris-Longchamp Group 1.

The four-year-old becomes only the eighth horse in the history of the great race to win the Arc twice, while it’s a sixth victory in Europe’s top middle-distance race for Dettori from 30 rides.

It was not such an easy success as the one she recorded last season, as she just had enough to repel the late charge from the William Haggas-trained Sea Of Class, who had been supplemented earlier in the week.

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While this was by no means a strong renewal, with the likes of Enable’s stablemate Cracksman, Crystal Ocean and Poet’s Word all absent, Enable had missed much of the current campaign due to injury and had just one run before the 1m4f contest, albeit an impressive comeback at Kempton.

Yet she was a red-hot favourite and in overcast conditions, she did not let supporters down.

While this was probably not up to last season’s scintillating form when she landed the Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, King George and handed out a four-length beating to the decent Ulysses in the Arc, should still followed up in style.

Enable is a relentless galloper and although Dettori elected to sit just off the pace, Prince Khalid Abdulla’s filly was always travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders and the packed grandstands roared as she hit the front.

In contrast, having been drawn out wide, Sea Of Class, who is blessed with a great turn of foot, was dropped out last by James Doyle and was still a long way off the pace rounding the home turn.

She rattled home once in the clear to set up an epic finish, but Enable had just enough in the tank to claim a popular victory. Cloth Of Stars, second last year for Andre Fabre and a big outsider this time, was third.

She is now odds-on with GentingBet to land the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Chruchill Downs.

Gosden said: “It’s not been the preparation we wanted, it’s been very difficult. I actually had a hiccup between Kempton and here with a slight temperature, so it has not been easy.

“She wasn’t at her best today. I’ve had a difficult year with her and started with a bit more hair than I have now. It’s entirely down to the filly and her guts and a lovely ride from Frankie.

“The ground is a little slick – I’d liked to have seen more rain – but she’s got the job done and it’s very much down to her mind and ability.

“She’s a wonderful filly and it’s an enormous sense of relief.”

Gosden raised the possibility of Enable staying in training as a five-year-old in a bid to become the first horse to win the Arc three times.

He added: “It’s great for Prince Khalid. He wanted to come here and if she’s in good form there’s no reason you wouldn’t try to come again.”

Abdullah’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: “She is unbelievable. It is so exciting and it was an extraordinary ride by Frankie, he pressed the button at the right time.

“The other filly came to her and she was getting a little bit tired. She probably needed the race, but what a great job done by John and everyone at Clarehaven.

“For Prince Khalid, it’s truly unbelievable. He’s here today and he’s absolutely loved it. It’s truly an emotional day for everyone. She had the dream trip and we were lucky like that. It was an extraordinary horse race.

“That (coming back next year) will be up to Prince Khalid.”