They are on the verge of writing one of the most beautiful chapters in the history of racing. Lanfranco Dettori and John Gosden, the jockey-trainer combination trainer behind the great Enable, the mare out to record an unprecedented third win in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the world's top race, open up a few days ahead of the big event.
Of Italian extraction, Dettori is based in England. He will celebrate his 50th birthday in December and his record as a jockey is truly remarkable. He has won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe six times, which makes him record holder, having ridden in the race 31 times. He won his first Group 1 race (the highest level in racing) in 1990, and, to date, boasts 259 successes at this level.
In a serene mood as the big day comes near, he said: “We have already achieved something historic by winning the King George for the third time. Frankly, the pressure involved is less than last year, and it's not because there will be fewer people in Paris. It's because we have already experienced disappointment. The three hours which followed last year's defeat were the worst in my entire professional career, and I think that Enable was similarly downcast.”
On the matter of the tactics, Dettori said: “Rain is forecast and the ground will most likely be heavy. I hope that we won't experience extremes of going as happened last year. There are two horses that like to go to the front: Serpentine and Sovereign. So taking up a good position will be de rigueur.
“The genuine heavy ground will turn the Arc into a stamina test. That will play to Stradivarius' strengths, and, on the contrary, the distance may prove a bit long for Persian King, although anything trained by André Fabre warrants respect. There are other horses which shouldn't be underestimated such as Sottsass. He hasn't had a hard campaign and boasts prior experience in the Arc de Triomphe.”
John Gosden, one of the most successful trainers (he has won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe three times) of his profession, believes that his mare is ready to give of her best: “Enable is doing very well! She's at her optimum racing weight and is happy. We had a bit of trouble getting her really 'fit' this year, as the mare has grown older and heavier. However, as things stand, she's in top form. So we are confident. She has never run a bad race. She invariably rises to the task. She's primed to run a big race.”
Gosden will also saddle Stradivarius, the world's top stayer in the world, and now trying his hand over 2,400 metres (12 furlongs). Regarding the ability of his two runners to cope with the forecast heavy ground, Gosden said: “Enable has already run well on very soft ground, but like many horses, she prefers good ground. She can cope with testing tracks, but that renders her task more difficult: as it's more demanding in terms of stamina. Stradivarius has always been a fast ground horse, but he surprised us on the day of the [Ascot] Gold Cup when he managed to win, despite the conditions, over 4.000m (2m 4f). So if it rains, we hope that both horses will be able to cope. It is my jockeys who will decide on the tactics. They have to judge how fast they are going, where they have to be in a race, and how much effort to ask of their horses… It can be dangerous to give a horse in front too much rope, and, in equal measure, the same applies to make too much use of your horse, which invariably entails you cutting your own throat.”
John Gosden will follow the race on television owing to the restrictions relative to Covid-19. Taking it on the chin, he said: “For the horses that will be better as they'll be calmer! Regarding our situation, we just have to deal with it… We live in complicated times. I will watch the race on television, like almost everyone else. My team and I have had the extreme privilege and responsibility of looking after such a mare for all these years. The Enable adventure has been fantastic and, if she wins on Sunday, it would be wonderful. However, above all, the only thing we ask of the mare is that she gives it her best shot. I'm sure that she will do that. ”
A total of 15 horses drew stalls for the 2020 Arc, listed below:
- Persian King – A. Fabre
- Royal Julius – J. Reynier
- Way to Paris – A. Marcialis
- Japan – A. O'Brien
- Sovereign – A. O'Brien
- Stradivarius – J. Gosden
- Sottsass – JC. Rouget
- Enable – J. Gosden
- Deirdre – M. Hashida
- Gold Trip – F. Chappet
- Chachnak – F. Vermeulen
- In Swoop – FH. Graffard
- Mogul – A. O'Brien
- Serpentine – A. O'Brien
- Raabihah – JC. Rouget
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