It was a disappointing field of just three runners in Saturday’s Group II Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood where the imposing figure of the five-year-old Redoute’s Choice mare Enbihaar monstered a pair of three-year-old fillies to retain the crown she won 12 months ago.
With long, lopping strides, the John Gosden-trained mare came clear in the closing stages to defeat the Roger Varian-trained Mastercraftsman filly Cabaletta by three and a quarter lengths with the Aiden O’Brien-trained Galileo filly Snow a further 13’5 lengths back in third after being eased down in the closing stages.
It was the fourth Group II success for the Sheikh Hamdan Al Makotum colour-bearer advancing her overall record to 6 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 11 starts.
Following on from a successful Royal Ascot the Shadwell silks have enjoyed another wonderful week at Goodwood with Mohaather taking the Group1 Qatar Sussex Stakes and the remarkable sprinter Battaash romping home in Friday’s Group II King George Qatar Stakes for the fourth time in course record time.
Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "It is unlike Sheikh Hamdan to keep an older mare in training, so I am glad to see him rewarded for that decision with another Group win. We needed to get a run into her at Newmarket and it was good to see her come back over the extra trip and show her old enthusiasm.
"The plan initially was to win a Group 1 with her this year. I will talk to John, see what the options are and what Sheikh Hamdan would like to do. It's just nice to see her come out and show that amazing stride she has got on her - once she gets into that, she is a potent weapon. Jim said that she will stay two miles any day, so it opens up the options a bit.
"She probably doesn't want the ground too soft. She would get stuck in very soft ground with that action and we thought that was partly her undoing in Paris last year. Let's see what sort of autumn we get."
A €500,000 purchase by Shadwell Farms out of the Haras du Mezeray draft at the August Arquana Yearling Sale, Enbihaar is a half-sister to stakes placegetters Silent Attack (Dream Ahead) and King Bolete (Cape Cross) out of the Trempolino mare Chanterelle who is a sister to multiple Gr III winner Cox Orange and a half-sister to Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Amonita (Anabaa) out of the top-class racemare Spectacular Joke (Spectacular Bid).
