The Flat's greatest performers often leave racing fans wanting more as they are hurried away to the breeding sheds but the sport got the news it craved on Monday morning when it was announced Enable would stay in training.

A place in history as the first three-time winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be the ultimate aim for the brilliant John Gosden-trained filly, who has already achieved so much during a dazzling 11-race career that has included seven wins at the highest level spanned across four nations.

Prince Khalid Abdullah, her owner, has decided to roll the dice again with the daughter of Nathaniel, whose truncated three-race campaign this year saw her win a second Arc at ParisLongchamp before following up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Enable wins a second Arc

Enable became the first Arc winner to win at the American showpiece in the same season with her gutsy success in Kentucky. Gosden seemed to question the tactics of her rivals in the race, pointing out she was "closely attended" on Racing UK's Luck On Sunday at the weekend, and will no doubt relish having her back at Clarehaven after the recent retirements of Cracksman and Roaring Lion.

The only people in the sport who won't be rejoicing are those charged with the task of trying to find chinks in her armour.

“I think Prince Khalid wanted time to reflect on the Arc and Breeders’ Cup and time to enjoy it before he started to think about the following year," Grimthorpe said.

“Obviously it was important that she was in good shape when she came back. She checked out really well, so from that point of view it gave us the encouragement to go on.”

Watch what John Gosden had to say when Nick Luck asked him about not moving a muscle as Enable powered to Breeders' Cup history. An interesting reply on several levels 😯

Watch the whole interview here >>> https://t.co/N9nspLinZS pic.twitter.com/vqpBP42o8n — Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 18, 2018

As it stands, Enable is one of eight dual winners of the Arc in its illustrious 98-year history, and Grimthorpe is under no illusions about what a third triumph would represent.

He added: “A third Arc would certainly be a challenge to say the very least, but that’s what racing is all about – taking these challenges.

“I think if we’d had a full year this year, it would be hard to say what might have happened, but she only had one race as a two-year-old, a full season at three and then just three runs this year, so there are not too many miles on the clock.

“She still enjoys her racing, so she will be given her chance to make a bit of history.”

Enable bounds clear in the 2017 King George

Enable’s campaign will be geared around another trip to France next October but her route back to Paris has yet to be decided. The Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot would seem a logical aim - she has yet to run at the meeting - as would the Juddmonte International, a race Abdullah sponsors.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes must also be in the reckoning. The spacing of those three races would work well, if nothing else.

"The main mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half races would be what we are looking at, but the Arc remains her primary target,” Grimthorpe said.

Ladbrokes offer 4-1 about Enable winning her third Arc, while it is 5-1 on her defending her Breeders’ Cup Turf crown and just 8-1 about her chances of winning both races again in 2019.

Criquette Head-Maarek saddled the great Treve to win successive Arcs in 2013 and 2014, while she finished fourth place behind Enable’s John Gosden-trained stablemate Golden Horn in her hat-trick attempt the following year, in what was her last racecourse appearance.

Enable overcame thunder and lightning, plus the opposition, in the Oaks

The French trainer, who retired in February after a glittering career spanning more than 40 years, has applauded Abdullah’s decision to carry on with Enable’s racing career.

“Age has its own problems, but when they are very good like she is why not keep her in training? She is a top-class mare and she’s sound,” she said.

“I did that with Treve and everything was perfect. Enable is an incredible filly. To win an Arc plus the Breeders’ Cup – for me she did something very few horses can do. She’s something else.

“Of course it is a fantastic thing her staying in training. It’s a great idea and I hope she wins a third Arc.”

John Reid also believes it is “brilliant” the racing public are going to see more of Enable.

The former top jockey enjoyed great success on older horses in his day in the saddle.

Among the five-year-olds he rode to major victories were Tony Bin in the 1988 Arc and Swain in the 1997 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Reid believes horses only reach their peak at about that age and in the past some of the best ones have been retired to stud before they have probably reached their full potential on the track.

“They can do it. Horses don’t mature until they are four or five. As long as they’ve not had too much abuse or injuries, they will be better than ever.” said the Classic-winning jockey.

“There’s no reason to suppose they won’t be (as good) – they should be better really.

“Generally they don’t go backwards. They get stronger and more powerful. As long as there’s a bit left they should get better.

“There has been plenty of horses in training that age. In the past we retired the good ones far too early, having really not seen the best of them. I think it’s brilliant.”

And he is not the only one.