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Deirdre team not ruling out tackling golden girl Enable at Longchamp

3 minute read

Deirdre could yet bid to become Japan's first winner of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the start of next month with connections not ruling out a supplementary entry for Saturday's unlucky Irish Champions Stakes fourth.

The five-year-old mare has already tasted top-level success in Europe this season with a shock 20-1 victory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, and she was an eyecatcher last weekend when finishing strongly following a troubled passage at Leopardstown.

Deirdre winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies And Mares)
Deirdre winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies And Mares) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Trainer Mitsuru Hashida and owner Toji Morita have asked big-race jockey Oisin Murphy to consider which Group 1 race would be a suitable next port of call, with Murphy not putting a line through a possible tilt at Enable in the Arc on October 6.

"The options for her are the Qipco Champion Stakes, Breeders' Cup or the Arc," Murphy said on Wednesday. "She could actually do the Arc and Breeders' Cup. She'd definitely stay a mile and a half. The Japanese do have plenty of runners for the Arc but it's certainly not out of the question. I'll definitely have an input but I haven't given it enough thought and that will be decided in the next week or so."

Enable
Enable Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Deirdre  was beaten three lengths behind Magical at Leopardstown having had to switch around runners to find racing room after travelling strongly at the rear of the field and Murphy is unsure if it was the difference between winning and losing.

"I don't know if she'd have won but she'd have finished closer," he added. "She's very talented and you never want an excuse in a big race, so I was disappointed on Saturday."

Despite her impressive size and physique, the rider feels quick ground is paramount to Deirdre, meaning the Breeders' Cup in November could be the ideal destination.

He said: "She wants fast ground and it's unlikely she's going to get that in France or at Ascot. The Arc will be a very competitive race and you need luck with the draw.

"The Champion Stakes is a great race and might cut up a little bit with Enable going to the Arc and John Gosden perhaps running some of his other good mares in the filly and mares' race on Champions Day. So I need to weigh that up, but I would imagine she'd have another run before America."

Murphy added: "The Breeders' Cup would be a great finish to the season. You have to remember she's come from Japan and, if she was to go to Ascot, there's not really enough time between Ascot and the Breeders' Cup."

Despite leading closest rival Danny Tudhope by more than 30 winners in the race to be crowned champion Flat jockey in Britain, Murphy is refusing to take his foot off the gas and raced back from riding in France on Monday to compete at Kempton's evening meeting and had rides in all eight races at Sandown on Wednesday. 

"Danny is going to keep going so I have to keep going," Murphy said. "I haven't been banned at all this year so touch wood that will continue.

"If I lost it now I'd be gutted after the effort I've put it in. Getting to 200 for the year would also be nice and I'd like to do that as well. 

"It's been a rollercoaster and when I went 11 behind I was worried. I had only a 17 per cent strike-rate in June which wasn't good enough but it's been very good since and hopefully it continues."


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