In a wet and thundery scene on the Downs, Enable proved her true worth as a top-class middle-distance filly by running away with the Investec Oaks.
Eventful pre-race as American challenger Daddys Lil Darling was withdrawn after unseating Olivier Peslier, the remaining nine runners were taken a long at a brisk pace by Ballydoyle outsider Pocketfullofdreams.
Warm favourite Rhododendron was positioned in fourth behind John Gosden’s Enable with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
As the leader was swallowed up entering the final two furlongs, the top two in the betting swooped on by racing neck and neck, with Rhododendron initially travelling best.
Inside the final furlong, Enable edged on and began to draw clear. She stayed on strongly to the line to take the third fillies’ Classic by five-lengths.
“I knew my filly would stay right to the end and she pulled away in the last furlong what a good mare,” reflected Dettori.
“She’s only ran three times she’s very good, she stays really and she is still a bit of a frame.”
A second victory in the race, the Clarehaven maestro won the Oaks for the first time back in 2014 with Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum’s Taghrooda.
From just his first crop, Newsells Park Stud’s resident stallion Nathaniel reaches a significant milestone in a relatively short time in siring his first Classic winner.
Gosden said: “It was a proper test in driving rain, extraordinary tough conditions these fillies were brave to go through it.
“She’s a big girl, I must say compared to some of the others she’s a massive stature so we can dream of the future.”
It was a proper test in driving rain
Earlier in the afternoon, Highland Reel registered a fifth success at Group 1 level in the Investec Coronation Cup.
In the familiar hands of Ryan Moore, the son of Galileo led from the outset.
Although strongly challenged by Godolphin’s Hawkbill inside the final two furlongs, Highland Reel found extra and forged ahead to win the mile and a half contest by a length and three quarters.
