Nathaniel’s daughter Enable really proved herself as one of the all time greats today winning the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second consecutive year for trainer John Gosden and owner/breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah.

The four-year-old filly had to hold off the late thrust from Sea Of Class to prevail at ParisLongchamp to become the first British-trained dual Arc winner, and the third filly ever to win the race twice.

Having won five Gr.1 races in 2017, Enable’s 2018 campaign has not been smooth with a setback early on which limited her to just one run and win in the Gr.3 September Stakes at Kempton last month, and it had not gone all according to plan thereafter either.

Trainer John Gosden said: “”It’s not been the preparation we’ve wanted – I had a slight hiccup between Kempton and here with a slight temperature problem – so it’s not been easy and it’s down to the filly. Frankie rode a lovely race.

“Prince Khalid [Abdullah] is the owner-breeder and he wanted to come here and I’ll talk to him and if she’s in good form, there’s no reason why we won’t come back again.  She wasn’t at her best today. But she got the job done and she’s a wonderful filly.  She has a fantastic mind, she’s a real competitor.”

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: “She is an exceptional horse and John did a fantastic job to get her here after her troubles in the spring, and it was an extraordinary ride by Frankie, who pushed the buttons at the right time.  It is an emotional day for all of us.”

Enable is out of the Juddmonte Farms’ Stakes winning mare Concentric, also the dam of Gr.2 Prix de Pomone and Gr.3 Prix Allez France-placed Contribution.  Out of the Gr.3 Prix de Royaumont winer Apogee, Concentric is a full-sister to the Gr.2 Prix de Royallieudam winner Dance Routine.  She in turn produced the multiple top-level scorer and champion Flintshire who was a runner-up twice in this race.

Nathaniel has enjoyed another great year following on from the success of his first Classic crop in 2017, led by the incomparable Enable.  With 10 Group or Stakes winners in 2018 to date (6 Group and 4 Stakes winners) and 16 Group or Stakes horses in all.  Nathaniel’s first two crops include 22 Group or Stakes horses, and 32 have a RPR of 95 or higher (18 colts and 14 fillies).  Bred for greatness indeed!