Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was narrowly out of luck in the G1 Cazoo Oaks, could bid for G2 Ribblesdale S. glory at Royal Ascot next week, according to her joint-trainer John Gosden.
A clear-cut winner of the G3 Musidora S. in her Epsom prep, John and Thady Gosden's 'TDN Rising Star' endured a luckless Classic run, losing a handful of lengths at the start when stumbling coming out of the stalls before being beaten just a short head by Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at the line.
That was Emily Upjohn's third start of the campaign, having also cantered home by 9 1/2 lengths at Sandown on her return in April, and John Gosden has not completely ruled out a swift return at Group 2 level next Thursday.
He said, “The Ribblesdale is a very important race, she's never won a Group 2. You wait until the end of July and you're looking at two possible races, then the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks.
“If she's in good form, it's something that needs to be considered and thoroughly looked at, you don't just say 'oh we'll wait seven weeks or two months'.
“In her life she's had four races, which isn't an awful lot. We'll see, she's fine, she's been eating well and looking well. She's cantered and seems happy, so we'll keep the options open.”
Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the winter favourite for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas who has yet to grace the track this season, is on track to return in the G1 Coronation S.
Gosden said, “It can happen to some fillies in the spring, she's taken a long time to come right and you don't want to rush them. She's pleasing me now and going the right way. She's goes for the Coronation.
“She's coming to herself and I think we're beginning to see the filly of last year, so we'll hope for a big performance. I think she's getting close to being exactly where we want her and as long as the next few days go all right, she can put up a bold show.
“We have been [keen to run], but sometimes in this game you just have to be patient.”
Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was another Gosden Classic hope over the winter, with many hoping the colt could give his owner The Queen a G1 Cazoo Derby win in her Platinum Jubilee year.
However, after suffering a setback at the end of last term, Reach For The Moon was ruled out of Epsom some weeks before the Classic, instead making his reappearance in the Listed Heron S. at Sandown last month.
Second to My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) over a mile there, Reach For The Moon is now likely to edge up to 10 furlongs in the G3 Hampton Court S. rather than be pitched in over a mile and a half in the G2 King Edward VI S.
Gosden said, “We're thinking Hampton Court for Reach For The Moon, over a mile and a quarter. He's pleased us in his work and we're very happy with him.
“I think when you've sustained an injury like that, you have to go very gently and it just wasn't going to happen in time.
“Obviously the owner-breeder was very keen to do everything right by the horse, so that made it simple for me in a sense. Just get a run in at Sandown and go to Royal Ascot.
“He's a character, he likes to play and shout. He enjoys the prelims–you'll hear him, he's a character that boy.”
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