Emily Upjohn and Frankie Dettori dominates Gr.1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

In a repeat of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes that appeared to be wide open, Emily Upjohn displayed a wonderful turn of foot to leave her competitors in the dust. Thunder Kiss and Insinuendo, two Irish raiders, overcame significant odds to place second and third, respectively. The runner-up in the Cazoo Oaks bounced back with a three-length victory while wearing a hood for the first time since her disastrous performance in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.

Winning co-trainer John Gosden said, “I have owners that let me be patient and give Emily Upjohn all the time she needed. I will never work out the King George as long as I live. Full marks to Pyledriver who let everyone go mad up front – I don’t know what they all did, last one to Swinley Bottom is a sissy, or something!

“Anyhow, we gave her a lot of time off from that and gave her every chance to come back and get back here. The whole team have done a great job with her, and to get her confidence back, that’s the other thing. When you run a race like that and finish a distance last, you’re going to be a little shaken mentally, but she showed her class today. She was unlucky in the Oaks and thank God we won a Group One this year. She stays in training and the aims next year will be the King George and the Arc. She’s won her Group One and we’ll let her have a holiday now,” Gosden elaborated further.