Dahlbury Coronation Cup
Group 1, Newmarket 15:10
 £425,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
1m 4f, Class 1   
Friday 2nd June 2023

QuinnBet

1 Emily Upjohn 11/4
2 Westover 5/2F
3 Point Lonsdale 7/2
5 ran Distances: 1¾l, 7½l, 5l
Time: 2m 33.78s (fast by 1.42s)

That was mega impressive from Emily Upjohn who put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

The first filly to claim the crown since 1991 and that goes some way to making up for her narrow Oaks defeat of 2022...

An 11-4 chance for John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Sea The Stars was biding her time in the early stages and only threw down a challenge in the home straight.

She then displayed a fantastic turn of foot to sweep past her rivals, and while Westover closed towards home Emily Upjohn had a comfortable length and three-quarters in hand at the line.

Gosden senior said: “She did it beautifully. We had planned Dubai (Sheema Classic), but she didn’t come to herself in the spring, so we waited. She’s only just come ready to run, actually, only just now.

“She probably hit the front too soon and she’s having a really good blow so she should come on for that.

“She ended up in front because of the way she quickened, she’s a hugely talented filly.

“The Oaks went wrong last year, but that’s history. She showed that speed early last year and then again in the autumn on soft ground, this is quickening all the time, it’s genuine good to firm and she’s shown a lot of talent over a mile and a half.

“It’s nice to bring her back here and win, and Westover had a rough trip here last year in the Derby but take nothing from either winner of the Oaks or the Derby, they were very good.

“She’s in the Hardwicke at Ascot or you could have a look at a race like the Eclipse. It’s one or the other and we’ll have a think.

“She’d have no trouble coming back to 10 furlongs at Sandown, so I slightly favour the Eclipse at this stage, 10 furlongs, uphill finish.”

Trainers Quotes

QuinnBet make Emily Upjohn 5-1 from 8s for the Eclipse, and 7-1 from 10-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Dettori said: “She’s a big girl so I got her ready at the top of the hill and gosh did she quicken, wow.

“The change of pace she showed and she kept going right to the line. Myself and Rob (Hornby, on Westover) pulled a long way clear of the third.

“She feels better this year, she feels stronger, but more importantly she’s better in her mind. She was fighting stuff last year, but she’s ready to relax a bit this year.

“She’s better in the mornings now but we just let her be, if she wants to have a look she can have a look!”

He added: “I must say when I was in the stalls I was thinking ‘please don’t slip today’ after what happened in the Oaks and then everything went wrong in the King George, she didn’t breathe.

“We kept the hood on her today after a long discussion and she relaxed beautifully.”

Coronation Cup
 £425,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Emily Upjohn 4 8-13 John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori 11/4
2 (3) Westover 4 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rob Hornby 5/2F
3 (4) Point Lonsdale 4 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 7/2
4 (5) 5 Tunnes 4 9-2 P Schiergen Rene Piechulek 15/2
5 (2) hd Hurricane Lane 5 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 4/1