Oaks next for Musidora winner Emily Upjohn
- Jonathan Doidge
- 11 May 2022
Impressive Tattersalls Musidora Stakes winner Emily Upjohn is heading for a tilt at the Oaks, according to trainer John Gosden.
The filly has been made favourite for the fillies' Blue Riband at Epsom Downs next month, after finishing five lengths clear of a Group 3 field, under Frankie Dettori.
"The Fugue won this and was unlucky in the Oaks and the less said about that the better," said Gosden.
"I would say this filly is in that class. Whereas The Fugue was a mile and a quarter, and still holds the track record at Ascot for that trip, this is a mile and half filly.
"She's from the Aga Khan family. There's plenty of stamina there and I think she'll go up to a mile and a half and I think that's where she'll stay after this.
"She's very well balanced but there's no reason why we won't go and get her a sausage and some baked beans on the breakfast at Epsom, have a canter around the track there and see how she handles it.
"We'll beat a retreat to the Ribblesdale if not. She's well balanced, good stride and she's learned a lot about life today."
When I asked whether he expected the winner to be as exuberant as she was, he responded: "I did. I saw she was a little edgy. She had a red hood on to the start, so we'll keep that on.
"She's very expressive, she likes to show off and enjoy herself. I thought she settled beautifully after a furlong and that was noticed by the commentator too.
Meanwhile, after delighting the crowd with a flying dismount, pilot Dettori said: "She's a big girl. We think a lot of her. Funnily enough the shower really made for a change in the ground. We were all struggling four out. I just sat quiet then at the two I asked her to quicken and she stayed on well.
"Even her, she struggled a bit. It's a testing surface. We're going in but we're not getting out. Listen, she won a trial by five lengths so there's not too many bad things you can say about her.
"She looks keen but she's in control. She's exuberant but she's obeying my commands. You want them like that, trust me."
Second-placed Life Of Dreams may still head for the Oaks, according to connections but she'd have the Devil's own job of turning this form around against a filly who should be even better when upped in trip.
