John Gosden weighing up Breeders’ Cup options for Emily Upjohn
Emily Upjohn ridden by Frankie Dettori wins the Coronation Cup
John Gosden is still undecided on where Emily Upjohn will race at the Breeders’ Cup next week.
The versatile five-year-old has enjoyed Group One success at both 10 furlongs and a mile and a half and featured among the pre-entries for both the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the longer Breeders’ Cup Turf against the colts and geldings at Del Mar.
Emily Upjohn is Paddy Power’s 5/2 favourite for the mile-and-a-quarter race against her own sex having chased home Arc heroine Bluestocking and ParisLongchamp runner-up Aventure in the Prix Vermeille when last seen.
However, Gosden, who trains the daughter of Sea The Stars in conjunction with son Thady, is content to remain in both races as long as possible before pinning his colours to a particular mast.
Gosden said: “She ran very well, third in the Prix Vermeille the other day and obviously the winner won the Arc, so that’s rock-solid form and again, she was second to the same filly in Ireland in the Pretty Polly, so she’s run very solidly.
“We might look at the Turf on Monday – you’re allowed to double enter and when you double enter, you look at the races and see what you think so there’s a possibility.
“She’s run against the colts before, the starting stalls are at the beginning of the back stretch rather than the furlong, you’ve got more of a run down the back, so that’s an advantage as well.
“The draw is very important at Del Mar – if you start getting high draws, and double numbers, things start getting quite complicated.”
One horse definitely going for the Turf is the Brian Meehan-trained Jayarebe. The Zoffany colt has been a real star for his Manton yard, being out of the first three just once in seven career starts.
His efforts this year have included wins in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and most recently the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend. Sandwiched in between those runs was a fine effort against Economics at Deauville.
Should he come out on top in California, he would be a third winner of the race for Meehan, after Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010).
“We’re delighted with Jayarebe – he’s been in great form since winning in France. He works tomorrow (Friday) and flies out early Saturday morning. Sean Levey will ride him,” said Meehan.
“The form of the Prix Dollar has really been boosted and we’re delighted with him heading into the Breeders’ Cup.
“We’ve been fortunate to have great success at the Breeders’ Cup in the past and we’re looking forward to it.”
He added: “We believe the mile-and-a-half trip in America will suit him perfectly. It’s brilliant to have Sean on board. He knows the colt very well and he’s riding so well at the moment.”
