Enable Every Bit As Good As Found And Treve

The last week delivered three winners for us in Persistant, West Coast Time and Landofhopeandglory.

Winners
I was surprised with how well Persistent handled the ground conditions at Tipperary. His task was made easier with the leader running out at the second last. It was his first run since a mid-summer break and while he probably won’t handle deep winter ground, we’ll keep him on the go until the ground deteriorates.

West Coast Time did the job in good style. His jumping left a bit to be desired but we’ll work on that and head for a winners race next. We’ll probably end up clashing with some of the better novices from here on but his bumper form was strong and…

we’re entitled at this point to think he’ll be up to graded company.

Landofhopeandglory won the graded novice chase at Roscommon last Monday. I was pleased to see him put in a solid round of jumping after falling at Galway last time. We’ll keep him going now – his runs will be spread out but we’ll pick and choose our way with him over the coming months.

Housesofparliament ran well in the graded novice hurdle at Tipperary. I thought he was going to be a good second before he was just run out of it close home. He jumped very well on ground that wouldn’t have been ideal.

French Delight
Across at Chantilly, my father had a great day with Happily and Rhododendron winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix de l’Opera.

Happily toughed it out really well against the colts, while Rhododendron got a deserved three-year-old Group One victory. She’s a slightly forgotten filly. Winter’s exploits during the summer meant a two-time classic runner-up was overlooked by some but she’s all class. Dad was saying afterwards that…

she now heads to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

Enable & Frankie
The sheer class of Enable was again displayed in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She became the sixth filly in seven years to win the ‘Arc’ and she looks every bit as good as Found and Treve.

I know people enjoy comparing generations but I enjoy watching every horse as an individual. We could be here until next year debating if Enable would beat Treve!

Enable never looked in any danger throughout the race. Frankie Dettori got an ideal position settled just behind the leaders and importantly on the outside.

Frankie on the big days is as good a rider as anyone in the world.

If asked what sets him apart, I would say his pace brain – he’s got a great feel for knowing where he should be positioned in the race.

When I was riding against him, he was always and still is a superb judge of pace from the front.