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Horse Racing

Coronavirus outbreak puts plans for superstar Enable on hold as crisis threatens to scupper Arc bid

THE coronavirus pandemic could scupper Enable’s bid for an historic third Arc.

John Gosden’s brilliant mare suffered a surprise defeat behind Waldgeist when chasing a hat-trick of wins at Longchamp in October.

Plans for wonder mare Enable are on hold

It was widely expected that she would be retired following that reversal in the historic 1m4f contest.

But connections sportingly decided to keep her in training as a six-year-old – though plans are on hold because of the Covid-19 crisis.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “Enable is absolutely fine. She’s done well over the winter – she looks good and seems very happy.

“She’s just cantering away at the moment. It’s obviously very difficult to make any plans – before this wretched thing started it was in her hands, whereas now it’s in the lap of the gods to a certain extent.

“It will be up to the BHA to decide on a revised race programme when they’re able to do so.

“Everything is going to be concertinaed, and we’ll just have to go along with it.

“All we can do for the time being is hunker down and hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Grimthorpe also had an update on several other Abdullah-owned stars, including Group 1 winners Siskin and Quadrilateral, leading contenders for the 2000 and 1000 Guineas respectively.

He said: “Quadrilateral is in good form and had a very good winter.

“Roger (Charlton) is very pleased with her progress – and from the various shots I’ve seen of her, she does look to have done well physically.

“Ger (Lyons) took Siskin to Naas the other day, and I’m told he enjoyed himself. I don’t think it was a searching piece of work – and it was on heavy ground with headwind – but he went nicely, and Ger was pleased with him.

“With him, we’re going to have to wait and see what his best trip will be, because he hasn’t raced beyond six furlongs yet. Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to find out.”