Superstar Enable will again miss a trip to Royal Ascot and head to the Coral Eclipse at Sandown in what looks to be a better preparation rote towards the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.
This year the Eclipse has been pushed back a day to Sunday 5th July and with the mare making her seasonal reappearance in the Group One contest last season it does look a logical first step back into the season.
John Gosden's super-mare, again has the big aim of landing that elusive third Arc win that she was narrowly beaten out of last year by the Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist.
It was a shock decision by the mares owner Khalid Abdullah to keep his daughter of Nathaniel in training but a very popular one amongst the sport and everyone will be hoping she can round of her career in good style.
(Credit At The Races) Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “Prince Khalid is happy she aims towards that race, which is obviously where she started last year.”
Royal Ascot would have been extra special with Enable racing but overall it looks the most logical route to see her starting at Sandown.
Grimthorpe added: “It’s like everything, there’s always various decisions to be made and obviously the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the ultimate aim again, so we hope this is the best course.“In these days it’s very much one race at a time.”
Enable is currently the 11/10 favourite to land back to back renewals of the contest.