Enable has lit up racecourses globally for the last three seasons, but this year's campaign is very much up in the air.
Racing Manger to owner Khalid Abdullah Lord Grimthorpe has given an update on Enable and the rest of some of the stars to carry the famous free, pink and white silks.
Enable suffered defeat, in her final outing in last autumn's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, prompting connections to sportingly give the historic treble bid another go.
However, which races the 10-time Group One winner will contest before the first Sunday in October remains to be seen, with the outbreak of Covid-19 making it impossible for connections to firm up targets.
ENABLE 👑 A mare like no other
The Queen Of Racing goes for her 10th Group 1 at York on Thursday #EnableDay pic.twitter.com/nYHaH4u0r3— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) August 20, 2019
Even if racing had continued in Ireland or France behind closed doors, overseas runners were not permitted to enter.
Lord Grimthorpe had this update : “Enable is absolutely fine. She’s done well over the winter — she looks good and seems very happy.
“It will be up to the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) to decide on a revised race programme when they’re able to do so. Everything is going to be concertinaed, and we’ll just have to go along with it.
“All we can do for the time being is hunker down and hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”
Three-year-olds
Abdullah’s two big hopes in the three-year-old division this season are Roger Charlton’s Quadrilateral and the Ger Lyons-trained Siskin.
Quadrilateral is the ante-post favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3, having rounded off her juvenile campaign with a narrow win in the Fillies’ Mile.
Siskin has not raced since grabbing Group One glory in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes in August, with his season having ended prematurely after he became upset in the stalls and had to be withdrawn before the Middle Park Stakes.
#RTVMomentOfTheDay: Siskin looked good at @curraghrace and this colt is pretty exciting for @gerlyonsracing, @ctkjockey and @JuddmonteFarms.
See today's action from the Curragh, @Goodwood_Races, @haydockraces, @ponteraces and @DownpatrickRace for free >>> https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/NcchGfyG08— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 24, 2019
The latter is prominent in ante-post lists for the 2000 Guineas on May 2 — but whether either of the season’s two opening Classics go ahead as scheduled must be in some doubt, with racing in Britain currently suspended until the end of April.
“Quadrilateral is in good form and had a very good winter,” said Grimthorpe.
“Roger is very pleased with her progress — and from the various shots I’ve seen of her, she does look to have done well physically.
“Ger took Siskin to Naas the other day, and I’m told he enjoyed himself. I don’t think it was a searching piece of work — and it was on heavy ground with headwind — but he went nicely, and Ger was pleased with him.
“With him, we’re going to have to wait and see what his best trip will be, because he hasn’t raced beyond six furlongs yet. Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to find out.”
Logician
Another unbeaten star for Abdullah is Logician, who won each of his five starts in 2019, including a brilliant display in the St Leger at Doncaster in September.
🏇🏻 Logician captures the G1 St Leger at Doncaster for Dettori & Gosden
🎥: @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/gKv0XGsyjV— ODDSbible Racing (@ODDSbibleRacing) September 14, 2019
The grey son of Frankel is a little behind in terms of fitness, having suffered a serious infection during the winter, but is reported to have made good progress.
Grimthorpe added: “He had this infection, and we’ve taken all possible precautions to ensure he has as clean an environment as possible.
“He’s OK now, but he hasn’t done much yet and wouldn’t be ready to run for a while anyway.
“I suppose for him, if anything, the diminishing of the season could be a positive.”
