March 29, 2024

Enable to continue racing in pursuit of Arc three-peat

Enable is on a mission to become the first horse to win the Arc three times (Coady Photography)

Sixteen days after Enable made history by adding the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) to her Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) laurels, Juddmonte Farms whetted international racing fans’ appetite for another unprecedented feat. The announcement came Monday that Prince Khalid Abdullah’s star homebred would be back in action next season in pursuit of a record-breaking third Arc title.

Enable will try to turn the three-peat that eluded the French racemare Treve. The stunning five-length winner of the 2013 Arc, Treve achieved the double in 2014, but finished fourth to Golden Horn in 2015.

Already unique in the annals of the Arc, Enable is the only two-time winner at different venues. The John Gosden trainee earned her first trophy at its temporary Chantilly home in 2017 before repeating at the newly revamped ParisLongchamp on October 7.

Enable has lifted jockey Frankie Dettori into the record book as the Arc’s all-time leading rider, with five and now six wins. Her latest success also marked a record-tying sixth Arc for owner/breeder Prince Khalid, joining the legendary Marcel Boussac. If Enable continues her historic march on October 6, 2019, the Juddmonte proprietor would stand alone with seven Arcs as an owner.

Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented on that prospect:

“If he were to take the record outright with the first three-time winner of the race, that would be something,” Grimthorpe told Racing Post.

Enable will bring a 10-for-11 career mark into her five-year-old campaign. Victorious in her sole start at two, and third in her sophomore debut, the daughter of Nathaniel has reeled off nine consecutive wins. She achieved an Epsom/Irish/Yorkshire Oaks (G1) treble along with the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) and Arc over older males in 2017. After an injury postponed her 2018 comeback, she captured the September (G3) en route to her Arc title defense, and repelled a challenge from Magical to become the first reigning Arc winner to prevail in a Breeders’ Cup race.