ASCOT, England: Frankie Dettori punched the air in triumph after he rode hot favorite Enable to victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The John Gosden trained 3-year-old filly, owned by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, skipped over the soft ground with a stone weight concession in the mile-and-a-half race having won the Irish Oaks by six lengths two weeks ago.
It was a career fifth win in the race for Dettori, who was proven right in his prediction that the dual Oaks winner in Epsom and Ireland had “all the weapons you need.”
Dettori, who was dieting all week as he returns from a broken shoulder, made his trademark leap from Enable and was smiling broadly as he and Gosden went to collect their trophy in pouring rain.
“She was very, very good,” he said.
“It was the best feel I’ve had since Golden Horn,” Dettori said in reference to his 2015 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner.
The superstar horse was given a rapturous ovation from the stands after storming down the rail-side in driving rain, rampaging down the home straight having led from half-way and winning by a good three lengths.
In form Irish horse Ulysses came second carrying much more weight and the much-fancied Highland Reel, last year’s winner, was narrowly pipped for third after suffering with the conditions.
Just two 3-year-olds have won this race in its 77 editions.
Dettori rides Enable to victory in Ascot race
Dettori rides Enable to victory in Ascot race
Morocco book place in Arab Cup semi-finals with late goal against Syria
- Syrian goalkeeper Elias Hadaya frustrated the Moroccans throughout the match before Walid Azaro grabbed the winner in the 79th minute
- Palestine were due to face Saudi Arabia later in the day for a chance to join them in the last four
DOHA: Morocco are the first team to book their place in the Arab Cup semi-finals, after a late goal in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, on Thursday gave them a 1-0 victory over Syria. Palestine were due to face Saudi Arabia later in the day for a chance to join them in the last four.
Syria matched their opponents for long spells but their impressive run at the tournament came to a heartbreaking end when they conceded in the closing minutes.
Morocco had the better of the limited first-half chances, with Amin Zahzouh forcing goalkeeper Elias Hadaya into a smart early save, but the Atlas Lions suffered a setback when Tarik Tissoudali was forced to exit the game with an injury.
Hadaya continued to frustrate Morocco after the break with a series of crucial interventions, including a sharp stop followed by a goal-line block from Zakaria Hannan.
The breakthrough came in the 79th minute when two Moroccan substitutes combined, Walid Azaro firing home from close range after Hadaya could only parry a long-range strike by Mounir Chouiar into his path.
Morocco had increased the pressure throughout second half and contined to do so as the clock ticked down, with chances falling to Oussama Tannane, Karim El-Berkaoui and Marwane Saadane before the final whistle confirmed the narrow victory.
