John Gosden excited by prospect of Eclipse bid with Emily Upjohn

PA Sport Reporters
June 13, 2023 1:57 pm

Filly looked exceptional in winning Coronation Cup.

John Gosden is confident Emily Upjohn’s turn of foot can prove a “potent weapon” when she drops back in distance for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown next month.

Unfortunate to be beaten a head in the Oaks at Epsom last season, the daughter of Sea The Stars made a triumphant return to the Surrey Downs with a brilliant victory in the Coronation Cup.

That win doubled the four-year-old’s Group One tally, having rounded off 2022 with victory on Champions Day at Ascot, and she is now being readied to take on the colts again at Sandown on July 8.

Emily Upjohn is 9-4 with the sponsors for the Eclipse, a race Gosden has previously won with Nathaniel (2012), Golden Horn (2015), Roaring Lion (2018) and Enable (2019).

Emily Upjohn surges home to win the Dahlbury Coronation Cup
🏆 @FrankieDettori flies from last to first to win it for the 6th time!#ITVRacing | @EpsomRacecourse pic.twitter.com/7KVWljWpio

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 2, 2023

“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,” said the Clarehaven handler.

“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.”

Frankie Dettori was all smiles following Emily Upjohn's Coronation Cup win — Frankie Dettori was all smiles following Emily Upjohn’s Coronation Cup win (Mike Egerton/PA)

Gosden said he was surprised by the manner of her performance at Epsom, adding: “She had been working well before the Coronation Cup, but we don’t try to 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.

“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.”