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Emily Upjohn to face seven rivals as she looks to get back on track in Yorkshire Oaks

3 minute read

John and Thady Gosden’s mare disappointed at Glorious Goodwood last time.

EMILY UPJOHN winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs in England.
EMILY UPJOHN winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs in England. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

The John and Thady Gosden -trained dual Group 1 heroine Emily Upjohn will face seven rivals as she bids to get her season back on track in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday.

The Lloyd Webber-owned daughter of Sea The Stars hasn't been seen in the winners' enclosure since landing last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom and has turned in just one on-par performance from three starts this season.

She finished well-beaten in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last time but did post a strong effort when reeled in late by Bluestocking – a notable absentee from Thursday's feature as she takes her chance in the Juddmonte International – in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June.

Connections will be hoping she can bounce back to her best on the Knavesmire under the guidance of regular rider Kieran Shoemark, who was recently replaced by Ryan Moore on stablemate Inspiral in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

The mile-and-a-half Group 1 prize also throws up a rematch between Irish Oaks champion You Got To Me and Content. Three-quarters of a length separated them when the pair finished first and second at the Curragh thirty-three days ago, but with Content arguably suffering a troubled passage in running, Aidan O'Brien's charge is made the 5/2 market leader by Paddy Power to gain revenge under Ryan Moore.

The master from Ballydoyle is also responsible for Port Fairy, who disappointed in the Irish Oaks on the back of her taking performance in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Team Clarehaven will also be doubly-represented as the progressive Queen Of The Pride bids to take the step up to Group 1 level in her stride. The Qatar Racing-owned filly was an impressive winner of the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last time and will be ridden by Qatar's retained rider Oisin Murphy.

William Haggas' Sea Theme will make her first outing at the top-level, while Hughie Morrison's Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes scorer Mistral Star and the David O'Meara -trained Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Lava Stream complete the field of eight.


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