Enable Returns in the Eclipse Stakes on Saturday

Words probably don’t do Enable justice, considering what she has achieved over the past couple of years. On Saturday she begins what is more than likely going to be her final season as a racing mare, before moving her career across into the breeding barn. She is simply a superstar of the game, and she returns at the highest level on Saturday, in the Group One Coral Eclipse.

She takes on seven rivals this weekend, although there is only one that can offer similar kind of Group One credentials as her, the rest have generally been running at a lower level. Her biggest danger looks likely to be Magical, a filly who ran Enable close in the USA on their final start of last season. The Ballydoyle filly is sure to prove good competition for Enable, and has crucial race fitness that could sway things in her favour if Enable is not quite at her best on the day.

Elsewhere in the race, Sir Michael Stoute runs two horses with very contrasting profiles in the race. Regal Reality is the younger horse at four, and the one who looks as though he could be a little better in the future with a bit more experience under his belt. Mustashry is the elder statesman, and a horse who has been there and done it all before. He won the Lockinge Stakes over one mile earlier this season and was last season when down the field at Royal Ascot. This step up in trip doesn’t seem to be what he needs, but he deserves respect due to the form he has in the book.

Telecaster is probably the most fascinating horse for those looking to have an each way punt in the race. He won the Group Two Dante Stakes, one of the big Derby trial races and beat Japan that day, who since finished third in the Derby and went on to win with ease at Royal Ascot. Had Telecaster not ran so disappointingly in the Derby, he would have been half of the odds he currently is now,  and he could prove to be the value.

Things didn’t go right in the Derby, with either the race coming too quick, the occasion being too much or the trip being too far. Either way, other than Magical’s second to Crystal Ocean at Royal Ascot, you can argue that Telecaster’s Dante Stakes win is the best piece of 1m2f form from 2019 in this race.

We’ve got just two days to wait until Enable is back on a racecourse for the first time this season. She has the best form in the book going into the race, but is running for the first time since last season, which does put a slight question mark against her. A few rivals will be looking to push her close, and this is setting up nicely to be a fascinating renewal of the Coral Eclipse Stakes.