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Enable and Frankie Dettori win Irish Oaks

Enable and Frankie Dettori win the Investec Oaks
Image: Enable and Frankie Dettori win the Irish Oaks

Connections of Enable hinted at a potential tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later in the season after she followed up her Epsom victory with a stunning performance in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

John Gosden's filly dominated her rivals in the Investec Oaks in early June and was the 2-5 favourite to become the first to complete the English-Irish Oaks double since Snow Fairy seven years ago.

The daughter of Nathaniel tracked the pace-setting Bengala and Frankie Dettori was happy to commit for home halfway up the straight.

The further Enable went the better she looked and she passed the post five and a half lengths clear of Rain Goddess in second, with Eziyra a couple of lengths further back in third.

"She's probably the best we've got. She's exceptionally good," enthused Gosden.

"She did it very well. I thought John Oxx's filly (Bengala) made a nice, sensible gallop and Frankie was able to get a lead into the straight.

"She quickens and she stays well. We couldn't be more pleased with her."

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Asked about plans, Gosden said: "Maybe she'll take the colts on at some stage, absolutely. She is in the King George in two weeks and we'll see what we think.

"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."

The ever-popular Dettori was sidelined for around a month by a shoulder injury suffered in a paddock fall at Yarmouth before returning to the saddle at Newmarket earlier this week.

He admitted he had rushed himself back in action to take the ride on Enable.

Dettori, winning his fourth Irish Oaks, said: "I've had a bad spell, but I'm back and it's nice to have my first winner back in a Classic.

"Luckily where I broke it (shoulder), it was in a place where it was going to heal very quickly. If I was going to have an operation I would have been out for the season.

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

Reflecting on Enable's performance, the Italian, who treated the crowd to his traditional flying dismount, added: "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.

"I was able to give my shoulder a rest in the last 100 yards and ease our way to the line. She felt great.

"As long as she travels, her well-being is good and she produces performances like that, we don't have to worry too much."

Enable carries the colours of Khalid Abdullah and his racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, also admitted the Arc is likely to come under consideration.

He said: "It's very exciting. Obviously we're absolutely thrilled with the way she's done it, in the style of a top-class filly.

"The way the Oaks was run at Epsom was at break-neck speed. They really put it to her and she outstayed them with a really classy performance.

"Today the pace wasn't quite so energetic, but she had a good position and quickened well in the straight.

"Physically she's improved. She's got some substance and depth to her now and also a very nice temperament, which is important on these occasions.

"I'd have to talk to John and Prince Khalid. The King George may come a bit soon for her. We could go for the Yorkshire Oaks and then think about other things in the autumn.

"She would need to be supplemented for the Arc, but she's got a little bit in the kitty now.

"I think they're very nice thoughts to have. It's onwards and upwards."

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