JOHN Gosden was wearing a brave face after champion mare Enable tasted defeat in the Coral-Eclipse.
The dual Arc winner had to settle for second on her eagerly-awaited comeback behind rising star Ghaiyyath.
There were positives to take from the run from the now six-year-old mare, but she was firmly put in her place by Godolphin’s front-running machine.
The early stages of the race panned out as expected, with the Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old towing the field along at a good pace.
Japan and Enable loomed up to have a crack at the leader, but he galloped relentlessly up the Sandown hill and was well on top at the line.
Frankie Dettori was pleased with the run and gave her a few smackers after the race, and Gosden confirmed she would chase a third win in the King George at Ascot later this month.
He said: “I’ve been very open about it, she is an older mare now and just getting her to her fighting weight has been a bit of a struggle.
“But I was thrilled with the run, she travelled well through the race and just got tired inside the final furlong.
“A great horse like Ghaiyyath on the front around here was always going to be hard to catch.
“Frankie was thrilled with her demeanour and enthusiasm for racing which has remained intact as a six-year-old.
“I just have a deep sense of relief that she has run well. We went far too hard in soft ground in the Arc last year and she walked the last 200 metres before the winner came past.
“But we’ve got a nice platform to build on now and we will go to the King George.”
She is unlikely to clash with Ghaiyyath again before the Arc in October, with Appleby suggesting that could be his long-term aim.
Appleby said: “We have always held him in high regard and I feel he gained a lot of respect after his Coronation Cup win.
“He has been an emphatic winner in France, Germany and Dubai, but to win impressively here I think he gained a lot of fans.
“The track suits front-runners, it was a good battle up the straight and a race like that is what racing needs.
“The ground got very soft which he hated in the Arc last year, but we are definitely open to going back there in the autumn.”
Dominant from Ghaiyyath.
A front-running exhibition in the Coral-Eclipse with Enable having to settle for second.
What did we make of that?
pic.twitter.com/aRZTgIGh2E
— Sun Racing (@SunRacing) July 5, 2020
Earlier on the card, A’Ali bounced back from a disappointing reappearance to lower the colours of Liberty Beach in the Coral Charge.
He was delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge by Frankie Dettori to win at 12-1, with the well-punted 13-8 favourite Liberty Beach having to settle for second place.
Dashing Willoughby stayed on best to win the Henry II Stakes under Oisin Murphy, with former Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter a disappointing third.
Roger Teal’s Gussy Mac ran out cosy winner of the Dragon Stakes and will now head to to Glorious Goodwood for the Richmond Stakes later this month.
SEE ALL FREE BETS HERE
