02/10/2017. Enable as good as I’ve ever ridden says lovestruck Dettori

 
CHANTILLY REACTION MORNING AFTER
 
Crowd-pleaser: Frankie Dettori in flying form at Chantilly on Saturday
Crowd-pleaser: Frankie Dettori in flying form at Chantilly on Saturday
Alan Crowhurst
 
By Stuart Riley
   

Ryan Moore was on the receiving end of Frank Dettori’s post-Arc lip service last year but this time Enable was the sole subject of his affections as his historic Chantilly-winning partner proved the perfect morning-after cure.

Winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for a record-breaking fifth time was the spark for celebrations that left Dettori feeling a shade delicate.

But a visit to see Enable did the trick as he laid a smacker on “the best filly I’ve ever ridden” when greeting the daughter of Nathaniel on her return to John Gosden’s Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket with a packet of Polos and a big hug.

The world’s most famous jockey is often on the receiving end of selfie requests but even celebrities have their idols and Enable is such a superstar in Dettori’s eyes that even he was compelled to grab a few snaps for posterity.

“I’ve felt better, but it’s all self-inflicted!” said Dettori on Monday after waking up the most decorated rider in the history of the Arc following the pair’s sensational triumph at Chantilly on Sunday.

“I’ve just been to see Enable now, I gave her a few Polos and a big kiss on the mouth,” he said. “She had a nice roll in her box with her Arc de Triomphe-winning rug on. I even got some pictures.”

Dettori, who congratulated Moore with a kiss after his weighing-room colleague won the Arc on Found in 2016, was still revelling in a success on Monday so fine that it brought Gosden close to tears.

He said about the five-time Group 1 winner, who became the first British-trained female to win France’s greatest racing prize: “She’s without a doubt the best filly I’ve ever ridden. It’s very hard to compare years, and colts with fillies, but she’s as definitely good as I’ve ridden.

“It’d be very unfair to say best, or better, because I’ve ridden some great horses, but she’s up there with the best of them.”

The esteem in which Dettori holds Sunday’s two-and-a-half length winner means he is among those clamouring to see her race on again next season aged four, a hope shared by Gosden.

He said: “She’s been amazing all year and what a ride she is, she’s a jockey’s dream. Of course I’d love her to come back, we can try and do what Treve did and win the Arc again.”

Dettori and Gosden may take encouragement from the fact owner Khalid Abdullah sportingly campaigned his last superstar mare Midday until she was five. He also forsook a year of stud fees to give Frankel one more season to establish his position as what many consider to be the greatest of all time.

But while his racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe would not commit to anything on Monday, he also ruled nothing out.

“She was fine this morning and yesterday was very special, as a victory it was hugely important to us,” he said. “It was Frankie’s fifth Arc, Prince Khalid’s fifth Arc and Enable’s fifth Group 1 win. It was certainly a tremendous performance.

“We’ll see how she is and I’ll talk to Prince Khalid in good time – but there’s no hurry for that decision.”

All parties have agreed that she will not run again this season. Bookmakers make her a 7-2 shot to emulate Treve and win next year’s Arc, which will be run back at its traditional home, Longchamp, after a two-year absence due to renovation.


Khalid Abdullah’s Arc heroes

Rainbow Quest 1985
The Jeremy Tree-trained four-year-old gave Khalid Abdullah his first win, getting the race in the stewards’ room after jockey Pat Eddery lodged a complaint against first past the post Sagace.

Dancing Brave 1986
Abdullah did not have to wait long for his second success when the Guy Harwood-trained Dancing Brave put up one of the greatest performances in the race when sprinting clear of a top-class field in a course record under Eddery.

Rail Link 2006
Andre Fabre provided the third success for the green, pink and white silks when Stephane Pasquier guided Rail Link to a neck defeat of Pride, with Deep Impact and Hurricane Run in third and fourth.

Workforce 2010
Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore combined to triumph, with the Derby winner only confirmed for the race three days before having disappointed in the King George.


Extraordinary Enable surges home

fonte : RacingPost