The late champion sire Redoute’s Choice has sired 173 stakes-winners worldwide, but only one of those had previously been successful at a distance of two miles until last night when quality mare Enbihaar captured the Group II Lonsdale Cup (3270m) at York.
Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Jim Crowley, Enbihaar was strong when challenged and hung on to win the staying test by three-quarters of a length.
Five year-old Enbihaar was the Champion Older Female Stayer of 2019, this victory taking her overall record to seven wins from 12 starts with this success her fifth at Group II level.
“
She's a very brave filly with a lovely long stride on her. We thought she'd stay the two miles, all the evidence suggested she would, and she's beaten some very handy stayers. She tries her heart out and she kept on going,” said Thady Gosden, son of trainer Joh Gosden..
“The main target is the G1 Prix Royallieu at the Arc meeting, that's the only fillies' Group 1 staying race and I'd say she'll go straight there if she's okay, she's had a pretty hard race today.”
A 500,000 euro purchase from the 2016 Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale for Shadwell, Enbihaar was one of four winners on the York program for Sheikh Hamdan.
Enbihaar is the best of four winners from Trempolino mare Chanterelle, a half-sister to Group I winner Amonita and half-sister to Group III winner Cox Orange.
If you were wondering who that other two mile stakes-winner for Redoute’s Choice was that would be La Amistad, the half-sister to triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, that won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington over two miles!
