Emily Upjohn (GB)

Some of us may be attempting to look the other way but with the Breeders' Cup behind us and the November Handicap now just a matter of days away we are going to have to admit that it is well and truly jumps season. There is some Flat excitement still in store on the international calendar with the potential appearance of Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the Japan Cup at the end of this month but...

Showing that her recent travails had left no mark on Sunday, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) instead relished a heavyweight clash with a younger rival up the ParisLongchamp straight to edge the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille from Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Hard at it when second in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and when fourth in the G1 Juddmonte International in the previous weeks, Ralph Beckett had considered leaving the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner at home so was a...

Continuing Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore's incredible week, Content (Ire) put the icing on the cake on Thursday by bringing up the long-awaited 100th individual group 1 winner for the legendary Galileo (Ire) in the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks. Close to sealing that deal when an unlucky second to You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Oaks last month, the daughter of the high-class sprinter Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was merely postponing the celebrations to this meeting at which her dam captured two editions...

Eight fillies and mares of contrasting recent fortunes line up for Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, with the appropriately named Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion) currently edging favouritism for Clarehaven in an open affair. One of the least exposed and therefore inevitably of more intrigue than most of her rivals, the impressive G2 Lancashire Oaks winner would be an emotive winner for Qatar Racing being a product of their beloved but ill-fated Roaring Lion and Classic heroine Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). David Redvers conveyed...

Eight distaffers will contest Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after two of the 10 overnight contenders were withdrawn before Tuesday morning's declaration stage. Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's G1 Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is set to renew rivalry with Curragh runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That Aidan O'Brien representative will be accompanied by stablemate and Irish Oaks 13th Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The latter had earlier accounted for the reopposing Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2...

Irish Oaks runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been supplemented to the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, bringing the field to 10 as of Friday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly joins stablemate and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the 1 1/2-mile contest on Aug. 22. O'Brien is aiming for his fourth title in the York race in the last five years. Ralph Beckett-trained fillies have been enjoying a good season, and G1 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will run in the...

A total of 227 entries have been received for the five Group contests scheduled to take place on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, it was announced on Tuesday. This is the largest number since 2018 and includes a record 56-strong entry for the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes, the feature race on the card slated for Saturday, October 19. The 56 horses entered for the Champion Stakes have won 37 Group 1 races between them, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) boasting the most decorated CV as a six-time...

Aidan O'Brien knew he still had a top-class filly on his hands despite Opera Singer (Justify--Liscanna {re}, by Sadler's Wells) missing out on all the early-season mile monuments and the late Evie Stockwell's homebred who had wowed in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac duly delivered up in trip in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. Able to control the 10-furlong contest from the front throughout, the 9-4 second favourite really turned it on passing the three-furlong pole and had to be brave late as the 16-1 shot See The...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation Stakes placegetter Opera Singer (Justify) and supplementary entry Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are the leading lights left after 10 of 12 overnight nominees stood their ground for Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes. Opera Singer, last term's impressive G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner, is on course to make her first start beyond the one-mile distance while it will be dual Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn's first visit to the Sussex Downs venue. The latter's Team Gosden stablemate Inspiral...

Dual Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been supplemented at a cost of £40,000 to the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 1. Her addition brings the field to 12, with her rivals including both John and Thady Gosden stablemate Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and trainer Aidan O'Brien's Group 1 winner Opera Singer (Justify). Second in the G1 Oaks at three, the daughter of Hidden Brief (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) would go on to take the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes later...

Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes served up a thriller, with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) running down Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the final yards for a deserved top-level breakthrough. With abundant rain falling on The Curragh throughout the day, the Ralph Beckett-trained 4-year-old who was herself cruelly denied late in last year's Irish Oaks held the upper hand in terms of ground preference and traded as the 11-10 favourite as a result. Settled in mid-division early...

Bringing genuine star quality to Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes, the Gosdens' Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) makes her belated Curragh debut having missed the 2022 Irish Oaks due to a freak aviation issue. What would have happened had her flight not been cancelled that July we'll never know, but her performance in last year's G1 Coronation Cup tells us she probably would have a Classic on her portfolio. Almost certainly guaranteed to be suited by this fair, galloping track, the 5-year-old may be peaking...