GB: Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn, current world #16 on TRC Global Rankings, will cut back in trip to a mile and a quarter for her next start in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on July 8.
Short-headed in last year’s Oaks after stumbling at the start, the daughter of Sea The Stars went on to land the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October.
Off for more than seven months after that victory, Emily Upjohn returned to land her second G1 success in the Coronation Cup in stylish fashion with a strong finishing burst as she claimed the Epsom race for an impressive 1¾-length success under Frankie Dettori.
“The Eclipse is the plan,” confirmed John Gosden, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with his son Thady. “That is what we said right after the Coronation Cup – that we would go for the Eclipse.”
Gosden has won the Eclipse four times in the past with Nathaniel (2012), Golden Horn (2015), Roaring Lion (2018) and Enable (2019). Emily Upjohn’s heads the sponsor’s market for this year’s race as a 9-4 chance.
“We are very happy with her,” Gosden added. “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!”
Gosden, he admitted he was impressed by the manner of Emily Upjohn’s victory at Epsom. “She had been working well before the Coronation Cup but we don’t try and do what she did on the track at home,” he explained.
“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 Sandown 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 betting (Coral): 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
• Visit the Jockey Club’s Sandown Park website
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