Enable to Bypass Yorkshire Oaks

Enable (GB) will miss York's Ebor meeting and a clash with fellow Investec Oaks (G1) winner Love (IRE) in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1) next week, to give her the best chance of winning a historic third Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), said trainer John Gosden. The two-time Arc winner, who was also short in the betting for the Juddmonte International (G1) at York, has taken in the Yorkshire Oaks as her final run before two of the last three Arcs—but owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe revealed Aug. 10 she will instead prepare for ParisLongchamp by tackling Kempton's September Stakes (G3) on the Polytrack Sept. 5. Explaining the decision, Gosden said: "The Eclipse, three weeks before the King George, was perfect timing as a prep race. The Yorkshire Oaks at over six weeks before the Arc does not suit nearly so well as the September Stakes. "We have successfully used this before as a prep race in 2018. We did not wish to travel to Longchamp three weeks before the Arc for the traditional French trials, and we only wished to run her once before the Arc. "The attempt to win a third Arc is the only reason she stayed in training this year, hence this plan." The Arc is 29 days after the September Stakes and 45 after the Yorkshire Oaks. Enable racked up a record third win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot last month after which a return to the Knavesmire, where she could have made more history by becoming the first three-time winner of the Yorkshire Oaks, was earmarked. However, owner Abdullah, who sponsors the highlight of the York meeting under his Juddmonte banner, had a change of heart. Grimthorpe said: "Prince Khalid has decided that Enable's next start will be the September Stakes at Kempton Sept. 5." Explaining the decision, he added: "There's lots of reasons. We're looking at the Arc as the main objective, and she's 6 years old now, we know she loves the Knavesmire but she's done well from the September Stakes as well and, we thought that would be a way of getting her to the Arc in the best possible shape." The daughter of Nathaniel (IRE) looked in good order when cantering on Warren Hill on Monday morning under the watchful eye of Gosden. Enable had been 6-4 with William Hill for the Yorkshire Oaks clash, with her younger rival Love a 4-5 chance. However, the big showdown now looks like taking place at Longchamp in October when the same firm make Enable 5-2 favorite to oblige with Love at 3-1. Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford was understandably delighted by the news and said: "It's fantastic news, it's a proven step to the Arc, and I was delighted to read it."