Exquisite Emily Upjohn Cruises to Coronation Cup Glory

Frankie Dettori’s Derby weekend is off to a flyer as he rode Emily Upjohn to a fantastic victory in the Dhalbury Coronation Cup in the Epsom sunshine. The filly produced a flawless display on the Downs to give the Italian a sixth victory in the race.

Hurricane Lane and Point Lonsdale made the running with Dettori and Emily Upjohn held up last of five runners, before Dettori pressed go to make a move around the outside of her rivals to finish one-and-three-quarter-lengths ahead of Westover. The filly was unlucky last year when falling out the stalls only to finish second by a short head in the Oaks, but strolled her way to the Winners Enclosure in style.

God, she took off

The jockey was seemingly impressed with her performance, when remarking; “I had her in a nice rhythm and I know she stays well, while she’s a big girl, so I had to get her prepared from a long way out but, God, she took off. She’s got what she deserved; she’s a top-class filly and things didn’t go right last year, but we got it right today.”

Her victory gave her joint-trainer John Gosden, who now shares a licence with son Thady, a second win in the race following the dominant display in 2018 with Cracksman. Emily Upjohn had previously won the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot in October, and John Gosden was full of praise back-to-back victories; “She’s always had that (speed) and actually she hasn’t shown it this spring and that’s probably why Frankie moved quite so early and in the end he said ‘I get there too soon’ and in the end she’s looking around.”

Frankie fly’s again in his final year

Frankie’s flying dismount is one of the most iconic celebrations in world sport and there’s been no shortage of it in his final year in the saddle. It was his second Group 1 of the year following Chaldean’s victory in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas last month, and Dettori has more hope with Soul Sister and Arrest in the next 24 hours.

The Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby are up next in the QIPCO British Champions Series, both at Epsom.