Wonder Mare Enable Looks Set For Another Success

The King George at Ascot is without a doubt the race of the day, and will be the one everyone is talking about. Can Enable continue her run, and make it 11 wins in a row or will something come to spoil the party? With horses like Crystal Ocean, Anthony Van Dyck, Defoe and Waldgeist in opposition this is no penalty kick for her, but even despite the talent that goes against her in this one, she still looks capable of coming out on top.

It was a surprise, but a very pleasant one, to see her remain in training as a five year old this season, and there is little doubt that this will be her last. While it is great to see her, I’m not sure too many thought we would see her at her very best this season, but based on what we saw in her reappearance run at Sandown in the Eclipse, she could well be at that level here. She will probably need to be close to it if she wants to come home in front, she has Group One and Two winners in abundance behind her.

The main target for this season will be the Arc at Longchamp, a race that will more than likely be her last. However, in the build up to that, she will continue to perform at Group One level, and will more than likely keep winning.

Looking at the opposition to her in this and Crystal Ocean is the main starting point. He has previously chased home Enable last season but is a much better horse now, improving with age as many do from the Sir Michael Stoute yard. He too is five, but finally landed his first Group One success at Royal Ascot last month. That was a very impressive win in the Prince Of Wales Stakes, and a repeat of that run would set a very high standard here. I’m not sure anything in the race can run to that level with the exception of Enable, so if he does that then the worst he is going to finish is second.

I don’t think Anthony Van Dyck was the strongest Derby winner we have ever seen, and losing in the Irish Derby at The Curragh sort of showed that, although just one run is not enough to really write someone off. The reason he comes into the reckoning here is simply because of the weight allowance he receives from the older horses. That gives him a chance, but he will need to be at his very best if he is to win this, even with the weight he is getting.

Waldgeist and Defoe round off those who have claims of being in and around the places at the finish, but both would need to put their very best down to get anywhere near the front two. They both deserve to be in Group One company, but this is no ordinary Group One contest and they look a little out of their depth, which is testament to those heading this field really.

In what should be a thriller, I am siding with Enable to maintain her unbeaten record here, despite the tough opposition she faces.