THANK you Enable. Thank you Crystal Ocean.
As a ‘young’ racing fan, I finally have my own Grundy vs. Bustino.
1
Of course I’ve seen the grainy footage of their momentous 1975 King George Clash and heard pundits and former jockeys tell the tale like racing folklore.
But after Crystal Ocean and Enable fought out their own race for the ages at Ascot yesterday, I now understand just why it’s remembered so fondly.
Pat Eddery and Joe Mercer served up a battle like no other from the home turn back in the seventies, and this time around it was Frankie Dettori and James Doyle.
The late, great Peter O’Sullevan called home one of the all-time commentaries to match the finish and on ITV Richard Hoiles’s call will go down in a similar vein.
It was something to behold. Dettori and Enable are made for each other.
The Italian admitted afterwards he has never had the same attachment to any other horse. Quite a statement when you consider his career.
She is a race mare that has everything, she simply has no weaknesses and when you think she’s beat, she proves you wrong.
York is next on the cards, but let us pray she creates history and wins that third Arc in Paris come October.
If anyone deserves it, she does.
For more from Callum, catch his thoughts and tips for the great game on Twitter here
