Enable Gets Stall Nine as Runners Are Confirmed For The Arc

By Gavin Beech  | 

Oct 3rd, 2019 04:14 PM  |  2 mins

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Enable looks set to go off the hottest Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe favourite since Sea The Stars 10 years ago after being handed stall nine in Thursday’s draw ceremony.

UK bookmakers rate Enable no bigger than 8/11 to become the first horse ever to win the prestigious contest three times and racing immortality now beckons for the John Gosden-trained mare.

Frankie Dettori’s mount, who is having her final race before retirement, has avoided the dreaded ‘car park draw’ which instead went the way of Ghaiyyath.

A field of just 12, the smallest since 2007, means that an interrupted passage is also less likely for Enable, who might just have the luxury of being able to track likely pace angle Ghaiyyath through in the early stages.

See Full Arc Draw Below

The news means that Enable, who is drawn in between the two Aidan O’Brien challengers, Magical (8) and Japan (10) is almost certain to go off odds-on in Sunday’s feature at Longchamp, with most layers holding firm on her price of 8/11.

Coral’s Dave Stevens said: “With only 11 rivals lining up against her, Enable faces her smallest Arc field to date, and as a result her draw of stall nine shouldn’t cause Frankie Dettori too many problems, ensuring she will be sent off the hottest favourite since Sea The Stars triumphed at 4-6 ten years ago.”

Ghaiyyath was seen as a potential threat to Enable after his stunning performance in a German Group 1 last month, but Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield now fears the worst for the Godolphin front-runner.

He said: “Not too many horses win a top-class race by 14 lengths, but Ghaiyyath will have to be absolutely exceptional to win from the car park draw of 12 of 12 against the likes of Enable and young pretender Japan.”

Full Qatar Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe draw:

• No.1 French King (5)
• No.2 Waldgeist (3)
• No.3 Ghaiyyath (12)
• No.4 Kiseki (7)
• No.5 Blast Onepiece (4)
• No.6 Fierement (2)
• No.7 Nagano Gold (11)
• No.8 Enable (9)
• No.9 Magical (8)
• No.10 Japan (10)
• No.11 Soft Light (6)
• No.12 Sottsass (1)