John Gosden: "Her tremendous turn of foot is a potent weapon"

John Gosden has described the rapid turn of foot possessed by dual Group One winner Emily Upjohn as a ‘potent weapon’ ahead of her drop back in trip to tackle next month’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park .

The Newmarket handler is readying the daughter of Sea The Stars, who he trains in partnership alongside his son Thady, for a tilt at the prestigious mile and a quarter Group One prize, which is staged for the 127th time on Saturday 8th July.

Gosden enjoyed four Coral-Eclipse wins when the sole licence holder courtesy of Nathaniel (2012), Golden Horn (2015), Roaring Lion (2018) and Enable (2019). Emily Upjohn currently heads the market at 9-4 with Coral for the 2023 renewal.

Emily Upjohn ran out an impressive length and three quarters winner on her seasonal return at Epsom Downs earlier this month when securing the second Group One success of her career in the DahlBury Coronation Cup.

Although that victory came over a mile and a half, Gosden is confident Emily Upjohn will be able to handle the drop back in trip over a course and distance she triumphed over by nine and a half lengths in a fillies’ novice contest last season.

Frankie Dettori spoke to Lydia Hislop on Racing TV after Emily Upjohn's impressive Epsom victory

Gosden said: “The Eclipse is the plan. That is what we said right after the Coronation Cup, that we would go for the Eclipse. We are very happy with her.

“She took the Coronation Cup in her stride and we will now head to the Eclipse. For a big girl she has a tremendous turn of foot which is a potent weapon.

“She had quite a time off from October before her run at Epsom and she didn’t run a lot last year after it all went a bit strange in the King George but she seems in great order now.

“Coming back in trip will be alright for her and 10 furlongs at Sandown should suit her fine. We will then hopefully look towards going back over a mile and a half again.

“She did win over course and distance in a novice event last year so she likes the track that is for sure. The competition might be a bit tougher this time though!”

While Emily Upjohn’s victory at Epsom Downs did not come as a surprise to Gosden, he admitted he was impressed in the manner in how it was achieved.

He added: “She had been working well before the Coronation Cup but we don’t try and do what she did on the track at home.

“You can travel well in your work on the bridle at home, but I didn’t let her come off the bridle at home.

“I knew those that rode her felt there was plenty there but you don’t go asking for it at home and to that extent we were very pleased with the way she quickened at Epsom.

“It looks like it will be a good Eclipse with a good combination of horses coming but we are very happy with her.”

Coral first sponsored the race in 1976 and in one of the longest-standing sponsorships in British racing, the bookmaker backs the race for the 48th time in 2023, making it the longest Group race sponsorship anywhere in the world.

Coral-Eclipse, Coral bet: 9-4 Emily Upjohn, 4 Adayar, 11-2 Luxembourg, 6 Auguste Rodin, Bay Bridge, 7 Desert Crown, 8 My Prospero, 9 Anmaat, 12 Paddington, 16 Buckaroo, The Foxes, 20 Al Riffa, Cairo, Cicero’s Gift, Nashwa, 25 Bar

The Coral-Eclipse forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Inspiral on course to return at Royal Ascot

Meanwhile stablemate Inspiral limbered up for her return to action in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday with a spin on Newmarket’s July Course this morning.

Partnered by Frankie Dettori, the daughter of Frankel, who will bid to secure the fourth Group One success of her career in the mile prize at the Berkshire track, finished comfortably ahead of her work companion following the conclusion of the exercise.

Gosden said: “We have been very happy with her recently and she enjoyed her work there. It was nice to get her back on the track.

“A racecourse gallop was part of the plan and it is a big help heading into Royal Ascot without having had a run.

“She has taken her time to come to hand. We had a cold wet spring then we had a lot of cold, dry weather with winds from the north east off the North Sea. A lot of these fillies just haven’t flourished that is all.”

It will be the second year running that Inspiral will make her seasonal re-appearance at the Royal meeting having made a triumphant return in the Coronation Stakes 12 months ago..

However, Gosden has acknowledged that Inspiral faces what he believes is a much ‘bigger test’ if she is to achieve the same outcome at the five day meeting as last year.

Gosden said: “We were hoping to go to the Lockinge but it didn’t quite happen so we will go straight into the Queen Anne. We did it last year going into the Coronation Stakes.

“It does give us confidence going there knowing that we have done this before. It is like all these fillies though they will tell you when they are ready to run you don’t tell them.

“Last year we were just taking on three year old fillies. This year we are taking on proven older horses and things like Breeders’ Cup Mile winners so it is a much bigger test.

“It would be very exciting if she did win. We just want to get her there in good order and at the moment we would be very pleased with her.”