Royal Ascot not ruled out for Emily Upjohn

Emily Upjohn could yet bid to atone for her Oaks heartbreak in next week’s Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A clear-cut winner of the Musidora in her Epsom prep, the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly 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 at the line.

That was Emily Upjohn’s third start of the campaign, having also cantered home by nine and a half lengths at Sandown on her return in April, and John Gosden has not completely ruled out a swift return at Group Two level next Thursday.

He said: “The Ribblesdale is a very important race, she’s never won a Group Two. You wait until the end of July and you’re looking at two possible races, then the 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 was the winter favourite for the 1000 Guineas but she bypassed the first fillies’ Classic as connections felt the race would just come too soon for the daughter of Frankel.

Winner of the Fillies’ Mile last year on her final juvenile outing, Inspiral will now get the chance to right the record as the winners of the English, French and Irish 1000 Guineas — Cachet, Mangoustine and Homeless Songs respectively — are all on course for a headline clash in the Coronation Stakes.

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, for which Mr (Dermot) Weld will be favourite (with Homeless Songs).

“It’s great when it happens (the Guineas winners meet), it’s like a grand finale and you find out who the best is.

“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.”