Emily Upjohn in cruise control for Fillies & Mares success

Nick Robson and Simon Milham
October 15, 2022 2:00 pm

Oaks runner-up back to form in style.

Emily Upjohn returned to her very best to run out an emphatic winner of the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.

The 3-1 favourite for the Group One under an inspired Frankie Dettori, the John and Thady Gosden-trained bay travelled in mid-division before breaking clear from the rest two furlongs from home in the mile-and-a-half showpiece.

From there the Oaks runner-up, who had disappointed when last of six in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, was unreachable, triumphing by three lengths from Ger Lyons’ 50-1 chance Thunder Kiss.

Two for @FrankieDettori on Champions Day! Emily Upjohn shines in the Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for the Gosdens at @Ascot pic.twitter.com/uvI5UgJVY8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 15, 2022

“It would have been heartbreaking not to win a Group One with this filly this year after what happened at Epsom in the Oaks,” said Dettori.

“She’s won a Group One, I’m delighted and she will stay in training next year.

“Nothing went right at Epsom, then for some reason she ran no race in the King George. John and the owners decided to give her a break. I’ve been riding her last couple of mornings and she has been given me the ‘wow’ factor again.

“It’s an amazing job the team has done. After four months to be pitched into a Group One and do what she did is amazing.”