Khalid Abdullah's call to keep homebred heroine Enable in training is vindicated

Khalid Abdullah could feasibly be called breeder of the century – both the 21st and 20th – but for the purpose of this series he is, with some understatement, our breeder of the week.

The honour is bestowed on his Juddmonte Farms because of homebred superstar Enable's history-making third success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.

But such is the operation's brilliance that in the past seven days it was also represented by Listed Lyric Fillies' Stakes winner Franconia and smart Ascot handicap scorers Blue Mist and Tsar.

Focusing on Enable, Juddmonte Farms stud director Simon Mockridge said: “It was another extraordinary ride by Frankie, who always knew that he had the bases covered, and another phenomenal training performance by John Gosden to have her in peak form.

“It's a great delight that she’s won and become the first horse ever to win three King Georges. It’s another point of history for her.

“The win means that she surpasses Frankel in winning 11 [Group 1 races], which is another milestone.”

Khalid Abdullah: one of the most successful breeders in the history of the sportCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mockridge paid tribute to Abdullah, who chose to keep the mare in training for another year.

“It's testament to Prince Khalid keeping the mare in training as a six-year-old,” he said.

“It’s incredibly sporting of him. It’s wonderful for the sport to have a great racemare like her staying in training, so that younger generations can be judged against them; it’s the only way we can ever tell how good horses are over a period of time.”

Mockridge told GBRI that no mating plans were set in stone ahead of Enable's intended retirement date at the end of the year.

“It’s a bit early to be making any decisions,” he said. “The focus and reasoning behind keeping her in training has always been the Arc and Prince Khalid and the team made that very apparent from the outset.

“There are options and you would have to consider Kingman, who is absolutely flying at the moment. I imagine he will be high up on the list but that will need to be discussed with Prince Khalid. He is the decision maker.”

Any self-respecting pedigree enthusiast should know Enable's pedigree by heart by now. But, to recap, she is by Newsells Park Stud resident Nathaniel out of the Listed-winning Sadler's Wells mare Concentric, a sister to Prix de Royallieu winner and Prix de Diane runner-up Dance Routine, who in turn is the dam of champion Flintshire.

Enable's three-year-old half-sister Portrush, by Abdullah's masterpiece Frankel, recently broke her maiden at Yarmouth.

Concentric also has a two-year-old colt by Sea The Stars named Derab and a yearling colt by Nathaniel.

This article and series is in association with Great British Racing International

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