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Enable 'in good shape' for Eclipse return

3 minute read

Only qualm over any chance of ‘very firm’ ground

Enable winning the Darley Irish Oaks (Fillies' Group 1)
Enable winning the Darley Irish Oaks (Fillies' Group 1) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Enable 's connections would be wary of very fast ground as she approaches her anticipated return to action in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Racing's golden girl has not been seen since winning the Breeders' Cup Turf in November – and her season is being built around a bid for equine immortality with a third win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

On Saturday, the John Gosden-trained daughter of Nathaniel will be having her first race over 10 furlongs since the only defeat of her career – which came on her three-year-old debut at Newbury.

It is notoriously difficult to win a Group One first time out, and fillies and mares do not have a historically great record in the race, the last successful one being Kooyonga in 1992.

"She's in good form – she had a nice breeze this morning and looks in good shape," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, on Wednesday.

"I don't think she'd want the ground very firm. Ten furlongs isn't worrying us, because she's got a good cruising speed, so I wouldn't be overly concerned about that. We thought Sandown would suit her, actually."

Hughie Morrison has confirmed the participation of Dante winner Telecaster.

The colt looked set to play a major role in the Derby after being supplemented – but having raced keen early, he faded tamely to finish last of 13.

"We were very happy with him yesterday (Tuesday) – so unless there's a late wobble, we will be there on Saturday," said Morrison, counting down to a contest which forms part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

"Epsom probably came too soon for him, and the course was probably not to his liking. Hopefully we are not going back too soon. He is bursting with energy at home, so we thought we'd better run him.

"Will we get the horse which ran in the Dante on Saturday, or the one who ran in the Derby?

"He doesn't give you any outward signs of the contrary. It's pretty unnerving, and it would be easy to bottle it – but he looks well, is working well and opportunities like this do not come along very often, so off you go."


At The Races

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