One that got away

Enable became the eighth horse to win the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe twice with a short neck victory at Longchamp on Sunday. Sidelined for eleven months, the brilliant Nathaniel filly returned to action in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton last month. Following her three and a half lengths victory there, she was sent off evens favourite yesterday. Drawn in stall 6, Frankie Dettori soon had his mount in a prime position. Leading with a furlong and a half to travel she was all out to hold the late challenge of Sea The Class. Interestingly, John Gosden revealed afterwards that his filly had missed some work in the run up to the race due to a temperature. It is therefore fair to say she wasn't at her very best on Sunday but still managed to win her sixth Group 1.

There is no mistaking the fact Enable is an outstanding filly and Gosden and his team have done a magnificent job with her. William Haggas was immensely proud of the runner-up but he must have left France very frustrated. It was always going to be tough for Sea of Class to overcome a wide draw (stall 15) but one can't help feeling she was the best horse in the race and the daughter of Sea The Stars would have prevailed in a few more strides. There is a fine line between a fantastic ride and an ordinary one. James Doyle was set a thankless task because of his stall position and had little option but to drop his mount out. I am not going to stick the knife in because he will be as disappointed as anyone but I don't agree with the comments from some professionals - either on TV or via social media - that it was a brilliant or fantastic ride. Having finished second, how can it be? Sea of Class should have emulated his father and won the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe nine years later.

Waldgeist was beaten less than two lengths in fourth but had no excuses. Andre Fabre's four year old wasn't good or quick enough. He is a high-class horse but not a top-notcher.

One Master (33/1) ensured the Haggas team didn't leave Paris empty handed by coming late and fast to win the Group 1 Prix de la Foret by a short head. The daughter of Fastnet Rock has won 4 of her 8 starts and 364 days earlier she won the Listed October Stakes at Ascot off a mark of 75. She has come a long way in a short space of time and a credit to her connections.

Switching codes, Declan Phelan contacted me over the weekend to inform me that the Robcour owned horse featured on page 129 of One Jump Ahead has joined Henry De Bromhead.

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