Enable on Course for Kempton

Dual G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is pleasing connections ahead of a start in the G3 September S. over the Kempton synthetic on Sept. 5. The 6-year-old Juddmonte silksbearer took the 2018 September S. in advance of her second Arc crown. Second in that ParisLongchamp showpiece in 2019, the John Gosden trainee was also runner-up in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. to Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) this July, but was back in top form in the G1 King George Vi & Queen Elizabeth S. on July 25.

Enable’s Arc opposition is arguably the stiffest yet, as since the Coral-Eclipse Ghaiyyath rolled by three lengths in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York on Aug. 19 after taking the G1 Coronation Cup S. in June, his third Group 1 on the bounce.  Standout Aidan O’Brien filly Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was also boosting her reputation recently with a victory in the Aug. 20 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks and looms a formidable rival in the Arc. Racing for the Coolmore partners, the sophomore miss claimed that Knavesmire contest by five lengths. In the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, the blaze-faced chestnut had drawn off by 4 1/4 lengths and her margin of victory in Epsom’s G1 Investec Oas was nine lengths.

“What we saw from both was no great surprise, really,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Prince Khalid Abdullah. “Both of them had very strong form going into their races–they were both favourites and both won well. Really they just proved what very good horses they are, but I think we already knew that–it wasn’t a surprise.

“Enable is in good form, anyway, and still on course for Kempton. Come the Arc, what will be will be. It won’t be just those two we’ll have to worry about. The Arc is so well revered for a reason-all the opposition merits respect. No Arc is ever easy.”

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International Glory For Ghaiyyath

Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) continues to go from strength to strength and only had to go about his usual business to add Wednesday’s star-studded G1 Juddmonte International to his G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Eclipse S. triumphs. Always content on the front end with William Buick holding on to something, the 11-8 favourite was brought up the centre of the home straight and stayed out of reach of Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to win by three lengths, with Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “This horse can do all the things most horses can’t. His high cruising speed, the way he keeps going and at the business end he has another gear just to finish the race off completely,” Buick said. “I love him. He’s a high-class horse and he’s now got everything on his CV. He’s beaten the best around at this trip. He’s the best I’ve ridden without a doubt.”

Despite the line-up being anything but ordinary, this was remarkably uneventful as a race and once Ghaiyyath had shed the attentions of the G3 Musidora S. winner Rose of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) soon after the start it was a case of plain sailing. Dubai Millennium (GB) never had the chance to strut his stuff on this pan-flat terrain, but his paternal grandson is making a stellar effort of appearing as his ultimate tribute act in 2020. There were already shades of the extraordinary in his G2 Prix d’Harcourt win at ParisLongchamp last April, but for every big performance during that season there was a drop-off that followed.

Another of his tours de force came in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in September, where he issued a 14-length beating to the recent group 1 winner Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}), with another 4 1/4 lengths back to the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Laccario (Ger) (Scalo {GB}), but the downside of that was his subsequent 10th in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The real test of whether he could stand up to a racing schedule this year came in the Eclipse, with his spellbinding display in the re-routed Coronation Cup at Newmarket June 5 too far away from his 8 1/2-length success in the Feb. 20 G3 Dubai Millennium at Meydan. With Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in opposition there, any faltering would have been punished but Ghaiyyath stayed strong all the way up Sandown’s unforgiving hillclimb to the line.

Presented with a different test here, he was equally at home pounding along on the even strip of green that runs along the Knavesmire and by the time he had reached the two pole it was clear that he had put Magical in just as uncomfortable a place as Enable had in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks. Despite the typically genuine chase of the second favourite, there was no hope to be found for Ryan Moore as the leader continued in his merciless fashion. Connections of the G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) found out in the last half a furlong that a mile is where he needs to be as he cracked and let Lord North by, but this was simply all about the winner who deserves to be placed in the elite on the honour roll.

Charlie Appleby commented, “I’m delighted with that performance today. To have a horse like that on our hands is an honour. It was a fantastic ride by William and a nice race to watch. He got into a lovely rhythm and I knew coming up the straight, once I saw William gather him up and change his hands, I was confident he would gallop on strongly to the line. It has been noticeable post-race this year that we have been dealing with a mature horse. Thankfully, Ghaiyyath has hit every target. It can be challenging at times but he hasn’t let us down at all.”

Appleby has a rematch with Enable on his mind now and added, “The Arc has always been in our mind–we ran him in the race last year because we felt he was an Arc contender–and I think, on what we have seen this season, he seems to have it all in his bag at the moment. I think everyone will agree that it was very soft ground in the Arc last year and we were drawn out in stall 12, so we wanted to get on the front-end because we felt that it was his style. I think we all held our hands up and said it was the wrong decision as he was doing far too much and never finished the race off at all.”

“We always felt that a mile and a half around two turns in the Breeders’ Cup Turf would be his gig, but we are all in the same position in this unprecedented year,” he added. “We don’t know if we will be able to travel or not, so it’s a matter of firstly appreciating today, enjoying it all and making sure Ghaiyyath is fit and well. Then we can start to map out where we might be able to try and get to. I feel he deserves to be up there with the Godolphin greats. Knowing how sporting His Highness is, I would say a percentage call on whether Ghaiyyath stays in training next year would hopefully be yes.”

John Gosden said of Lord North, “He found the ground a little loose–James [Doyle] said when he asked him to quicken he was spinning his wheels a little. It is a little loose out there with the rain on it. He’s finished off well to be third and we’re delighted. The winner is great–if you let him bowl in front you’ll never see him again. We’ll look at the [G1] Irish Champion Stakes next with our horse.” Andrew Balding said of Kameko, “It looked like he didn’t stay. Oisin [Murphy] felt he travelled into the race really well and just didn’t see it out. We’ll go back to a mile. We’ve got limited options, because he wouldn’t want the ground too soft, so we’ll just have to see.”

Ghaiyyath’s dam is the Late Gita Weld’s runaway G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also produced the GI Man o’War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The latter is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War), while Zhukova was purchased by Godolphin for 3.7million gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Nightime’s full-sister Phaenomena (Ire) has produced King of Koji (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), winner of this year’s G2 Meguro Kinen.

The second dam is the Listed Platinum S. winner Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who is connected to the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King’s Drama (Ire) (King’s Theatre {Ire}). Nightime’s 2-year-old full-brother to Ghaiyyath topped the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale when selling to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 700,000gns and he is named New Kingdom (Ire). At Goffs November, her latest son of Dubawi set a new record when again being knocked down to Godolphin for €1.2million. Her 2020 foal is a son of Kingman (GB).

Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £275,000, York, 8-19, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 2:07.38, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 132, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg ’15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £155,953. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14, G1SW-Ger, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-UAE, 12-9-0-2, $969,302. *1/2 to Zhukova (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS)), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-USA & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Magical (Ire), 129, m, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Halfway To Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. £59,125.
3–Lord North (Ire), 132, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Najoum, by Giant’s Causeway. O-HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-John Gosden. £29,590.
Margins: 3, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 2.25, 4.00.
Also Ran: Kameko, Rose of Kildare (Ire). Scratched: Aspetar (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Ghaiyyath Aims for Group1 Hat Trick in Juddmonte International

Now that all the building blocks are laid on solid foundations, Godolphin’s imposing presence Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the complete structure as a mature 5-year-old entire capable of enormous efforts. The latest of those was a once barely-conceivable 2 1/4-length defeat of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and he lines up a worthy short-priced favourite for Wednesday’s G1 Juddmonte International at York. This is a race that suits his age group, with the likes of Halling (Ire), Singspiel (Ire), Falbrav (Ire) and Sulamani (Ire) having triumphed over the younger generations in recent times. Boasting the best form and dynamite on the lead, the bay who broke Newmarket’s mile-and-a-half track record in the June 5 G1 Coronation Cup is also on prime territory on York’s “Knavesmire”, which has long been branded the “front-runner’s track”.

It is hard to see fault, but this is a race borne in the county of no-nonsense that respects results over reputation, that saw the only undoing of the great Brigadier Gerard (GB) in its inaugural year and recently of other similarly cramped-odds favourites as Al Kazeem (GB), Golden Horn (GB), Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Despite its tendency to favour those on the front end, it is remarkable that of the last 10 winners only the filly Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was ridden prominently.

Ghaiyyath has three big rivals, with the withdrawal of the G2 York S. winner Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}) on Tuesday taking out the only live outsider, and they will be keen to seize on any of the favourite’s frailties exposed by this track. Up in trip is Qatar Racing’s June 6 G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy), who due to a mixture of circumstance and ill fortune has been winless since the Newmarket Classic. Ballydoyle’s mare supreme Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be better than ever in 2020 and HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing’s impressive June 17 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. hero Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is impossible to peg down at present.

Charlie Appleby is relishing the prospect of Ghaiyyath passing this test and said, “This could be one of the best races of the season and it is exciting to be part of it. The Juddmonte International is always a great spectacle and it looks a very strong race, but I think they all have to come up to his level. It is the first time the top 3-year-olds will be taking on the older horses at this trip and he is special. You don’t win a Group 1 by 14 lengths like he did in Germany [in last year’s G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden] by being just an okay horse. That day at Baden Baden, the ground rode on the fast side of good. Before that, we thought he was more comfortable on a slower surface but what he has shown us since on quicker ground knocks that theory out of the park.”

“He’s the finished article now and that has a lot to do with it. He’s shown that he has grown up mentally and physically and he has taken his races so well this season. He was digging deep over the final furlong in the Eclipse, yet he came back fine,” he added. “It was no harder race for him than the Coronation Cup, which he won going an end-to-end gallop over a mile and a half in record time. He showed maturity at Sandown. He showed he was manageable in a race, which is the result of growing up.”

Galileo has sired five of the last 10 winners, a record which speaks for itself, and Aidan O’Brien holds the record of six wins jointly with Sir Michael Stoute, so Magical has a lot going for her even allowing for the fact that she is herself a six-time winner at this level. The latest of those to come in England was in Ascot’s Champion S. in October and without Enable and the aforementioned Crystal Ocean in her way would now be boasting five straight successes in this country. The manner of her performances when registering a brace over this trip in The Curragh’s G1 Pretty Polly S. June 28 and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup July 26 suggests she has been going through the motions in her native land and, perhaps more importantly, have added a new dimension to her running style. Now capable of dominating from the front, she could set up a potential tactical battle with Ghaiyyath should Ryan Moore elect to sit close to the royal blue runner throughout.

“We’ve been happy with Magical’s two runs this year. She’s been to The Curragh twice and won twice and everything has gone well since then,” O’Brien said. “We’ve been very happy with her all the way through this year, really. She’s very comfortable at 12 furlongs, but she stays 10 furlongs really well. She wouldn’t be worried what the ground is, she’s fairly versatile.”

Should Ghaiyyath and Magical get into all-out war, James Doyle could be the chief beneficiary on Lord North who showed a quality previously only hinted at with his romp in the Prince of Wales’s. He has followed a similar route to one of a trio of dual winners of this race in Halling, who also scaled the heights via the Cambridgeshire H., and is in some ways the “dark horse” in the line-up. “It was pretty exceptional, his performance at Ascot. There was plenty of confidence behind him that day and I don’t think there was any fluke about it,” Doyle commented. “He was up against Japan, Barney Roy and Addeybb, who are all solid Group 1 performers. He put them away quite convincingly and he’ll go to York a fresh horse.”

Taken to the G1 Epsom Derby in a spirit of sportsmanship, Kameko emerged from the July 4 blue riband unperturbed and showed his wellbeing in the July 29 G1 Sussex S. Denied a clear passage in that Goodwood mile feature, he ended up in the same position in fourth that he had been at Epsom and neither is a fair reflection of his capabilities. He showed a tendency to race freely in the Sussex and will need to settle better here to have any prospect of matching the older horses, while Oisin Murphy suggested in the immediate aftermath of that contest that he saw his mount predominantly as a miler. This is very much a fact-finding mission for connections of the 3-year-old, who is still unexposed as he tackles this trip for the first time. David Redvers said, “We’re very much looking forward to it–it is hugely exciting. It’s the best race of the year so far, Kameko is our best horse and we’re going to give it our best shot. The feeling in the camp earlier in the year was that a mile and a quarter could be his optimum trip, but he has sharpened up quite a bit of late and got stronger. We have got to try and we’ll see how it works out on the day.”

If Kameko fails to inspire in the International, Qatar Racing and Murphy may still leave York on day one in upbeat mood should the unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) keep that record intact in the G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. Owned in partnership with his breeders Watership Down Stud, the 3.5million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 topper comes to the track at which his dam Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) enjoyed one of her finest days in the 2009 G1 Yorkshire Oaks and at which his full-sisters So Mi Dar (GB) and Lah Ti Dar (GB) excelled. Following an impressive debut win at Newbury July 8 with an easy follow-up at Newmarket July 24, he enters unknown territory in terms of stamina but it would be a surprise if he does not possess it. “I think we would have ideally liked to run him over 10 furlongs again, but there wasn’t really a suitable race so we’re going to try 12,” David Redvers commented. “We are guided by what Mr. Gosden wants to do. I think we’re all very excited to see him run and we’ll have a better idea of where he fits in afterwards. I have an inkling 10 furlongs might be his ideal trip, but let’s see.”

Aidan O’Brien saddles another ‘TDN Rising Star’ in Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who is re-opposed by Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) after he beat them with a degree of comfort in Goodwood’s G3 Gordon S. July 30. “We were happy with him at Goodwood. He’d clearly come forward with each of his runs and we were happy with him going into it,” his trainer said. “I don’t think we’re viewing him as a St Leger horse. All going well, he could go for the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris after this. A mile and a half might be as far as he wants to go.”

Mogul was fourth when Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) captured the G2 King Edward VII S. over this trip at Royal Ascot June 16, but was in front when the pair renewed rivalry in the July 4 G1 Epsom Derby. Over seven lengths behind Mogul was 11th there, Pyledriver will be more in his comfort zone here and trainer William Muir is hopeful. “I think he’s got a good chance–he seems in great form,” he commented. “I think he’s a stronger horse than he was six weeks ago. I’ve been saying all year that he’ll get stronger as the year goes on and again next year–he’s not the finished article yet. That’s why I always thought it was a big ask to run him at Ascot and in the Derby, but that isn’t why he finished down the field at Epsom, that was because he got knocked over. I’m very happy with him at the moment and I’m sure he’ll run very well.”

Also in the mix is Hussain Alabbas Lootah’s Roberto Escobarr (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who needs a sizeable jump forward despite impressing with a course win over an extended 10 furlongs July 19. “It’s a big step up for him, but I thought he won nicely there last month and I think he deserves a shot,” trainer William Haggas said. “Whether this is too far too soon, I’m not sure, but I think he will be up to this level in time.”

Also on the card is the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. for 2-year-olds, with Godolphin’s authoritative Aug. 2 Leicester novice winner Cloudbridge (Hard Spun) likely to start favourite. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, “He won impressively on his debut at Leicester, where he did things the right way round and galloped out strongly at the finish. He was entitled to come on for that run and we’ve seen that at home since. The form of the Leicester race has worked out fairly well, which gives me a bit of confidence. He’s a live player.”

Kevin Ryan is looking for a third renewal since 2016 and puts forward Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Darvel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who broke his maiden over six furlongs at Ayr July 20. “He’s stepping up a furlong which will suit him. We’re looking forward to running him,” his trainer said.

Marco Botti expects Praise Of Shadows to build on his debut success when he jumps up to Group 3 level in the Tattersalls Acomb S. at York on Wednesday.

Cloudbridge is one of four in the line-up with a winning sole start to their name and another is the Marco Botti-trained Aug. 10 Chester winner Praise of Shadows (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). “Obviously we like the horse and we thought he was very professional. It’s not easy around Chester, but he handled the sharp track,” his Newmarket-based trainer said. “He quickened nicely and has come out of the race well. This race is a good opportunity to see where we are with him. I don’t think he had a hard race. We are hoping it will be good ground and not soft. We are hopeful and I think he has come on for the run.”

Click here for the group fields.

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Ghaiyyath Will Bypass King George

G1 Coral-Eclipse S. hero Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will skip the July 25 G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and another throwdown with champion Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and instead target the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 19, Racing Post reported. Godolphin’s bay turned in a stellar performance to defeat the two-time G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine at Sandown on Sunday.

“Ghaiyyath is having a quiet few days after the Eclipse and we’ll give the King George a miss to give him a bit more time between his races and look towards York,” Appleby told Racing Post. “It was in our thoughts before the start of the year to work back from the Arc again and it will be an interesting race in Paris if Enable turns up, and also there are some nice 3-year-olds coming through the ranks.

“He’s a more mature horse this year, and if he were to win or run well at York then he wouldn’t need a trial as he goes well off a break so we’d just freshen him up for the Arc.”

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