THERE is no pleasing some people. We are lucky to have two outstanding mares still in training, in Enable and Magical, but one consequence is that some of the races they contest will be more one-sided than they might have been otherwise.

Enable achieved the not-inconsiderable feat of winning her third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, but from just two rivals (after Anthony Van Dyck was a late scratch) and at odds of 4/9. Twenty-four hours later, Magical won her second Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, from five rivals (two from her own stable) and at 2/9.

Rather than deploring the lack of competitiveness of both races, it is possible to celebrate what the two mares achieved, and that is plenty on the clock if nothing else.

Strong pace

Sectionals and the overall time (a massive 5.68s quicker than the handicap which followed it) show that Sovereign set a strong pace in the King George and that Enable had to run close to her 124 peak to win as clearly as she did. I have her on 121 here and have reinstated Sovereign on 120 after he paid a bit for going so hard.

Japan was a disappointment in third, finding little, but having a dual Arc winner beating a wide-margin Irish Derby winner in a stamina-sapping race is not to be sniffed at. Never mind the width, at least appreciate the quality.

Uncomplicated

Magical achieved slightly less, against slightly lesser rivals, at the Curragh but again underlined just how reliable and uncomplicated she is by making all to beat Sir Dragonet, the never-nearer Search For A Song, and the sole three-year-old Armory. I have sectional ratings of 119 (123 at her best), 116, 112 and 112 respectively on the quartet.

Enable is better than Magical, beating her each time they have met. But there is probably little in it – with the margin twice being just three-quarters of a length – and a rematch would be well worth seeing. Throw in Love (121) for good measure and that would be a race worth going a long way to see (maybe the sitting room rather than the study in my case!).

All three are behind Ghaiyyath on my figures at present, even after a sex allowance is added, but Ghaiyyath showed in last year’s Arc that he can be harried into running poorly. Enable and Magical have shown they can get the job done time and again, and under a variety of circumstances, and that is to be admired also.