All Hail The Queen: Enable Retires

News | 12th October 2020

The record-breaking mare, Enable has been retired. Relive her career highlights and see the latest tributes to the hugely popular racehorse.

The record-breaking mare, Enable has been retired, sparking an emotional outpouring from racing fans across the globe.

Enable leaves behind a legacy as one of the greatest horses in British racing history. Her CV says it all, 11 Group 1 victories including two Classics, two Arcs, a Breeders Cup Turf and a record three King George triumphs at Ascot. 

The six-year-old ends her career with £10.7 million earned in prize money, the highest ever recorded for a mare trained in Europe.

While her wins by wide margins simply took the breath away, it was her resilience in those close battling finishes that really captured fans hearts. She never gave up and always gave her all right to the line.

The 2019 King George was the race that rider Frankie Dettori said stood out most for him. He said “What a race, the line-up of horses… The Arc winner, Waldgeist, Derby winners.”

“They were all in there and Crystal Ocean was a proper horse and we had some duel. She had every opportunity to throw in the towel but she didn’t. What a wonderful mare she is, so strong.”

Reflecting on the retirement news and Enable’s career as a whole, Dettori said, “Obviously I shed a tear as I was a bit emotional. She’s done so brilliant for all of us and I love her. I’m never going to forget her. I went to see her this morning. We had a tremendous journey for three-and-a-half, four years. She was the horse that most touched my heart.”

Trainer John Gosden said, “Enable has retired happy and sound after an extraordinary career. We all here at Clarehaven Stables have been very fortunate to be with her for the past five years. She’s been a joy to be around.”

Enable will now stand as a broodmare at Juddmonte, and she will be visiting Kingman next year. Let’s hope we see her foals enjoy success on the racecourse in years to come!

Highlights of Enable’s incredible career

Investec Oaks 2017

Enable demonstrated her mental toughness and determination to win a lightning-struck renewal of the Investec Oaks.

The weather may have been atrocious but Enable’s performance was the complete opposite. She crossed the line five lengths ahead of the well-fancied favourite Rhododendron.

Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2017

Enable’s fantastic form and steely mentality meant trainer John Gosden entered her in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.

The star went into the race as favourite having beaten most of the field earlier in the season. The champion didn’t disappoint. She never looked remotely in trouble and ran out an easy 3 length winner; Europe’s finest horses put to the sword in style. 

Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2018

After a 342 day break, Enable ran in her first Group One of the season, just a single month after a warm up run at Kempton.

This time her mentality, as well as her class, would be severely tested in what became one of the most exciting finishes for a very long time. It was a pulsating Arc with Enable just managing to hold off the fast-finishing Sea Of Class to win by a neck.

This was an incredible achievement after such a long spell out of action, trainer Gosden even commenting that his star filly wasn’t 100% before the race!

Enable career highlights - second Arc

Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf 2018

A real slice of history. No less than eight previous winners of the Arc, including legends like Dancing Brave and Golden Horn, had attempted the Breeders Cup double and failed – but not Enable!

Dettori said; “she was happy, she wasn’t struggling and I let the pace develop in front of me… I just waited for her to give me the message that she was ready to go.”

Coral-Eclipse 2019

Enable clocked up a 10th consecutive victory as the flying filly won her one and only Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on her seasonal return.

Enable emulated her dad Nathaniel, the 2012 winner, with a success that was much more comfortable than the three quarters of a length margin implied.

The talented runner-up, Magical, simply just couldn’t land a serious blow with Enable sweeping aside any concerns revolving around it being her first race in eight months, and over a distance short of her best.

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes 2019

The attitude of a champion – strength, perseverance, resilience, all shown in a simply epic renewal of the King George.

Enable held off the toughest challenge of her career from Crystal Ocean to battle to victory.

Without doubt one of the best races of the year!

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes 2020

After just missing out in unfavourably soft ground in the 2019 Arc and coming second to a monstrous performance by Ghaiyyath in the 2020 Coral-Eclipse, there was a little bit of pressure on the Enable team ahead of her chance to make history at Ascot.

However, the Queen of racing showed her star quality once again and put in a huge performance to win the King George by five-and-a-half lengths.

Enable became the first horse in the race’s 60 year history to win three King George’s.

Tributes to Enable

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=910907629316901

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