Enable adds Irish Oaks to Epsom win

Enable has stamped her class on the Irish Oaks, adding the Classic at the Curragh to her win at Epsom.

Trained by John Gosden for Khalid Abdullah, Enable put 5-1/2 lengths on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Rain Goddess to give flamboyant jockey Frankie Dettori a welcome Group One win after a shoulder injury sidelined him for almost a month.

After treating the crowd to his famous flying dismount, Dettori said the filly was the motivation for his return.

“I probably came back a week too quick but the dangling carrot was so big, I had to come back,” Dettori said.

The win was Dettori’s fourth in the Irish Classic and one to savour.

“I think she’s improved since Epsom. She travelled real good and I was always in second gear,” he said.

“I gave her a back-hander and she flew. I was able to give my shoulder a rest in the last 100 yards and ease our way to the line. She felt great.

“She’s amazing. She’s got a good cruising speed for a stayer, she can quicken and she gets the distance really well. They’re all the things you want.”

Gosden said there were several options ahead for Enable.

“She’s got tactical speed and a great temperament. She’s always been a lovely filly to be around from the day she walked in the stables,” he said.

“It’s good to have Frankie back after his annoying injury, but the flying dismount was in good order!”

“The King George is an option. She has got a little bit of a cut on her near hind, so we’ll have to see how that is.

“She’s in the Yorkshire Oaks and there’s the Arc de Triomphe, so we’ll see. As usual, the horse will always tell you.”