THERE might be no Love, but keeping the love for Enable is an absolute priority should she win, lose or draw tomorrow’s Arc.
Following the defection of Aidan O’Brien’s stable star from the Qatar-sponsored Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Enable is back as clear favourite for the European middle distance highlight.
But with that comes even more pressure on Enable’s legacy as she chases an historic third Arc success.
You see, many of the John Gosden-trained filly’s supporters will be disappointed, if not totally gutted, if Enable fails in her bid just as she did twelve months ago when chasing home Waldgeist.
Most of those fans would have accepted and understood a defeat tomorrow by Love, who has been super cool all season with wins in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks.
But there is a real possibility they will end up being anti Enable should she not score with Love out the way. That a second Arc defeat would be a real dent to the esteem she’s held in.
Everyone, therefore, needs to remember that Enable is already a history maker and super star of what is clearly, in her case, the Sport of Queens!
Enable is not only a Classic heroine and a double Arc victor. She’s the only horse to have landed three King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and also made history by taking the Breeders’ Cup Turf after an Arc success.
That success at Churchill Downs was for me her crowning moment. Superb. Remember, travelling abroad and conquering the world was something Australia’s wonder mare Winx never did.
Most sane racing enthusiasts will cheer Enable on. Quite simply she has danced nearly every dance, and like any super star heavyweight boxer has picked herself up off the canvas more than once and proved she’s as good as ever.
I’ll take her on tomorrow. But goodness, whatever happens Enable will always be a legend of the turf and thank you so much for the good times owner Prince Khalid Abdullah and Gosden who has worked wonders. Frankie Dettori is, of course, crazy about her.
A field of fifteen is set to go to post in the Arc, numbering the triple Ascot Gold Cup hero Stradivarius, former French Derby victor Sottsass and the exciting Vermeille runner-up Raabihah.
Many will feel Chris de Burgh holds the key to a selection, having once sung: “It’s the classical dilemma, between the head and the heart.”
As I know in many ways, he has a point, and while in this case my heart says Enable by head is saying something else with conditions at Longchamp being the equivalent of the awful scenes in either of the battles of Ypres or the Somme.
Oliver Peslier rides Stradivarius, and a strong gallop and deep going should not be an issue for him. He’s also at an advantage because he’s not all equine.
Owner Bjorn Nielson revealed: “We know this is a slightly different task from what he’s had to do in the past but the Arc is a race that is typically run at a fast pace from early on and that’s going to suit him.
“As everyone knows, he’s a lion and will be doing his running.”
No one expected a lion to line up!
This Arc has strength in depth, with Raabihah not to be ignored and Sottsass capable of a big run when at his very best.
He was third 12 months ago although he’s nothing like as good as a Bering who won the Prix du Jockey Club before being defeated by Dancing Brave in the 1986 Arc.
And don’t ignore Persian King, who might be suspect at the trip but is trained by the master European handler in Andre Fabre. Ignore Fabre at your peril.
As far as a selection is considered, in my online Good, Bad & Ugly column on Monday I tipped up In Swoop each-way at 20-1, and I’ll stick with him as a likely contender to serve up a shock.
In Swoop has only had four races, but on this third start was a tasty victor in the Group 1 Deutsches Derby and he chased home Mogul last time. He loves soft ground, so the muddier the better for him.
The Arc is tomorrow on the main ITV network, but today there’s some super racing on terrestrial TV to enjoy as well.
At Newmarket the Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes is a cracker, and many will fancy Champers Elysees who provided trainer Johnny Murtagh with a huge win in Ireland just the other day.
I’ll have a few quid each-way on the Queen Anne runner-up Terebellum, who was beaten into third last time by re-opposing Nazeef but I still can’t quite believe how that happened. She could be another for Gosden.
It’s a monster weekend. Enjoy.
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