The Queen of racing, Enable, prevailed again in one of the greatest races this century when digging deep to beat Crystal Ocean in the Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot today.

Nathaniel’s superstar filly was winning her ninth Gr.1 race for trainer John Gosden and owner/breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah.

In what was another incredible ride by Frankie Dettori, Enable was held wide having been drawn in stall 11, but turning for home the champion mare engaged the overdrive which had taken her to glory in two Arcs, three Oaks, a Coral-Eclipse and a Breeders’ Cup. An exciting and breath-taking duel took place with Enable and Crystal Ocean eye to eye with the five-year-old mare pulling out enough in the last few yards to score by a neck.  In doing so she became the third horse in history to win two renewals of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Trainer John Gosden said: ““She’s extraordinary and she even surprised me today. She’s an amazing horse in every way: her ability, her courage, how uncomplicated she is. I don’t know what to say, I love her.

“She gives me emotions that no other horse has ever given to me in my life and she’s only with me for another three months, so I’m trying to capture and enjoy every moment as we’re probably only going to see her two more times. Let’s enjoy her because she’s a superstar.”

Jockey Frankie Detorri said: ““I don’t want too many races like that because I’m absolutely exhausted. In all my career that was the hardest-fought big race I’ve had, with two champions fighting it out.

“Give credit to Crystal Ocean, I knew he was the one to beat as he’s very strong around here and once I put my head in front I thought I was going to see it out. In fairness he served it up to me and we had a right titanic battle, but I always had the edge.”

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Khalid Adbullah, said: “What more can you say about her? That was a race for the ages.

“I think we’ve given up pre-guessing her. Last time we thought she’d had a hard race she was bucking and kicking the next day and had eaten up and everything. The main target is the Arc and if we thought it was best not to go to York then that’s fine – we need to do what’s best for her.”

Enable is out of the Juddmonte Farms’ Stakes winning mare Concentric, also the dam of Gr.2 Prix de Pomone and Gr.3 Prix Allez France-placed Contribution and Gr.3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes second Entitle.  Out of the Gr.3 Prix de Royaumont winer Apogee, Concentric is a full-sister to the Gr.2 Prix de Royallieudam winner Dance Routine.  She in turn produced the multiple top-level scorer and champion Flintshire.

Newsells Park Stud also enjoyed more success in this great race with Waldgeist finishing a very creditable third despite ground not to his liking.  On fast ground he may have gone close to winning and he too will surely head back to Longchamp for another crack at the winner.  This consistent, tough and talented five-year-old has won three Gr.1 races, two Gr.2 races and a Gr.3 race, and been placed in a further three Gr.1 races.

Waldgeist was bred by Newsells Park in partnership with Gestut Ammerland and Coolmore under the Waldlerche Partnership.  By Galileo, his dam Waldlerche is a Group 3-winning daughter of Monsun whose half-siblings include St Leger winner Masked Marvel and the Listed winner Waldnah.  Waldlerche is also the dam of Gr.2 Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied, her Kingman two-year-old is in training with John Gosden, and her 2019 yearling is a full-sister to Waldgeist.