By Tom Frary
The birds were hoarse about Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) ahead of her 3-year-old bow on a Sandown card that John Gosden takes very seriously and the major Oaks mover did not disappoint as she galloped to a 9 1/2-length success in Friday's Nordoff Robbins Charlie Watts Memorial Fillies' Novice S. Sent off the 5-4 favourite for the 10-furlong contest won in similarly devastating fashion by the stable's Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in 2008, the bay who races for Tactful Finance stuck close to the leader Follow That Star (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) throughout with Frankie Dettori full of horse at every step. Eventually allowed to steam ahead passing the three-furlong pole, the bay duly opened up to inflict the heavy defeat on that rival and the Haggas newcomer Remembering (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), both in receipt of seven pounds. Race Replay.
Emily Upjohn, who had earned her penalty when getting up late on debut over an extended nine furlongs on Wolverhampton's Tapeta in November, is understandably now hot property for the Epsom Classic won by the yard's Taghrooda (GB) in 2014. Interestingly, that stellar performer was also a daughter of Sea the Stars who had been due to run in the 10-furlong handicap on this card only to be scratched. When it is remembered that Gosden holds the record of Sandown Classic Trial winners at nine and has won the Gordon Richards four times since 2012 including Friday's renewal, it is clear that this fixture holds special import to Clarehaven and it will be no surprise if this filly becomes the latest luminary to emerge from it.
“I rode her the other day and thought wow. Not many horses take my breath away, but you like to see them do it in the afternoon,” Dettori said. “When I rode her the other morning, we just did routine work and didn't press any buttons but she gave me the right feel. We went quite slow in the race actually, nobody wanted to go a proper pace as they are all still learning, so I kicked way early because I knew that she's a lengthener and that the sprint would not suit me. I'm very confident she'll get a mile and a half and physique-wise she's very mature for a three-year-old. She's a big girl, but she's not slow so she's everything you want really. I'm overwhelmed and delighted and we can now pitch her up in a trial and see what happens. Enable was big and it never stopped her! If they're good, they go at Epsom.” Thady Gosden added, “The Musidora would be the obvious choice, York's a great track and it will be a hot race but she's done it well today.”
Emily Upjohn, a 60,000gns snip for Blandford Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2, also shares with Taghrooda an Aga Khan heritage, being a granddaughter of the renowned owner-breeder's important mare Hazaradjat (Ire) (Darshaan (GB). The dam Hidden Brief (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), who was third in the Listed Prix Petite Etoile, is therefore a full-sister to the talented Hazarista (Ire) who captured the G3 Blue Wind S. and was third in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks. One of her half-sisters Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), who took the G3 Athasi S., produced his G1 Epsom and Irish Derby hero Harzand (Ire) also by Sea the Stars, as well as three other stakes winners including Harasiya (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who was also third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Another, the Listed Finale S. winner Hazarafa (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), is in turn the dam of Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal) whose career exploits included wins in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and G3 Amethyst S.
This is one of the Aga Khan's strongest dynasties, also featuring the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), last year's G1 Irish Derby, G1 St Leger S. and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the group scorers Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Swashbuckling (Ire) (Raven's Pass), Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) and Hamariyna (Ire) by Sea the Stars' son Sea the Moon (Ger). Hidden Brief, who Lordship Stud sold to Gaelic Bloodstock for just 16,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, also has a yearling daughter of Cappella Sansevero (GB).
6th-Sandown, £11,000, Novice, 4-22, 3yo, f, 9f 209yT, 2:14.09, gd.
EMILY UPJOHN (GB), f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Hidden Brief (GB) (SP-Fr), by Barathea (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hazaradjat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazy Idea (GB), by Hethersett (GB)
(60,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $12,802. O-Tactful Finance & S Roden; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
