John Gosden | Horse Racing Free Tips

Deal Done: Watership Down Stud Buy into Oaks Runner-up Emily Upjohn

Watership Down Stud has swopped to secure a 50% interest in Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), runner-up in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom when last seen.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Emily Upjohn was given a Timeform rating of 119p following her narrow defeat in the Oaks 10 days ago, where she overcame a slow start to go down fighting behind Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo).

Emily Upjohn has a number of intriguing entries, including the Irish Oaks and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.

Wherever she lines out next, the talented 3-year-old will run under Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's name, alongside Jon and Cyril Shack's Tactful Finance and Stuart Roden.

“We're absolutely thrilled to have bought into such an exciting filly at this stage of her career,” said stud owner, Lady Lloyd Webber yesterday.

“She is an absolutely stunning filly and the plan is very much for her to stay in training next year. We are also thrilled to be part of this new partnership with Jon, Cyril and Stuart, who are fantastic enthusiasts.”

Emily Upjohn was purchased as a yearling at Tattersalls by Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff for 60,000gns. She hails from a superb Aga Khan family that includes dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Godolphin's multiple Group 1 hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Lady Lloyd Webber, who alongside her husband Andrew, retains a 50% shareholding in leading stallion prospect Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and added, “We purchased Hurricane Lane's dam Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) three years ago and she is very closely related to Emily Upjohn, so we are no strangers to the family.

“When this filly eventually retires to stud, she will very much suit a mating to Too Darn Hot, which is clearly an added attraction for us.”

Jon Shack said, “As relatively small owners, we are extremely excited by this new partnership. Our family has had mares at Watership Down Stud for many years now and they do a fantastic job.”

“John and Thady and their amazing team at Clarehaven have done an incredible job with Emily so far. With a bit of luck, she can hopefully build on that [Epsom] performance and win a big prize for this new partnership before the season is over.”

The post Deal Done: Watership Down Stud Buy into Oaks Runner-up Emily Upjohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gosden Keeps Royal Ascot Option Open for Emily Upjohn

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.”

The post Gosden Keeps Royal Ascot Option Open for Emily Upjohn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Doyle says Major Oaks Player Nashwa is ‘Everything You Want in a Racehorse’

Hollie Doyle has described Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as being “everything you want in a racehorse” ahead of her bid to become the first female rider to win a Classic when she partners John and Thady Goden's rapidly-improving filly in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom on Friday.

Doyle is well used to breaking boundaries at this stage, with her tally of 152 winners in 2021 surpassing her own record of winners in a calendar year for a female jockey.

She has also ridden two five-timers, became the first woman to be successful on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot and finished third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Doyle now appears to have her best chance yet of becoming the first woman to ride a British Classic winner aboard Nashwa, who is second in the betting behind stablemate Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Taking inspiration from Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, Doyle admits it would be a huge moment for women in sport if she can strike Classic gold.

“It would be an absolute dream come true. You're always looking to progress throughout your career and it would be another box ticked,” she said.

“Like Rachael Blackmore winning the Grand National, winning a British Classic is something I dream of doing over the next 10 years or so, so if it could happen on Friday it would be great.

“Look at the reaction there was when Rachael won the Grand National. It's one of the toughest horse races in the world to win and she did that, so if I could win a British Classic it would be a dream come true for me personally and could hopefully inspire other women to get into the sport. It's a great opportunity to get a ride with a live chance.”

Seen by many as a trailblazer, Doyle has become accustomed to the extra attention that generates and insists she is fully focussed about the task in hand.

“I'm fairly used to it now. Every time I've done something new this is what happens, which is great,” she said in a Qipco British Champions Series Zoom call on Monday.

“I'm used to it and take it all in my stride. Ultimately I'm a jockey and I've got a job to do, that's how I approach it.”

Nashwa brings strong claims to the table, having built on the promise of a third-placed finish at Newmarket on her sole juvenile start with impressive wins at Haydock and Newbury this spring.

The one question that remains unanswered ahead of her appearance at Epsom is whether her stamina will last out on her first start over a mile and a half, but Doyle is optimistic.

She said, “I was very pleased with the performance at Newbury, as at Haydock I kind of gave her a no excuses ride, jumped out in the box seat and she was a little bit gassy.

“Stepping up into listed company at Newbury, I just wanted to ride her quietly to see how she'd relax and go through the gears and she relaxed beautifully-and was very responsive when I asked her.

“To me there was no definitive answer off the back of that performance whether she'd stay a mile and a half or not, but I think she ticks a lot of boxes that need ticking, so we'll find out won't we?”

The post Doyle says Major Oaks Player Nashwa is ‘Everything You Want in a Racehorse’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Clover to Roll The Big Dice With Rogue Millennium in the Oaks

Tom Clover enjoyed his greatest day on a racecourse when emerging star Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) advertised her Classic credentials when landing an Oaks Trial at Lingfield last month and now the trainer is looking forward to rolling the big dice at Epsom.

A Shadwell castoff who was picked up for just 35,000gns at the Mares Sale at Tattersalls last December, Rogue Millennium has already proved to be one of the finds of the season, building on her debut success at Wetherby to run out a gritty winner of the Listed SBK Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield last month.

That win represented her trainer's biggest yet and new dreams abound with the rapidly-progressive filly who is just 16-1 to provide Clover with Classic glory when she lines out in the Cazoo Oaks on June 3.

“Rogue Millennium seems very well. I'm very pleased with her,” Clover said.

“She physically looks great. I think she's come on since Lingfield. She continues to improve and all being well she's very much on course [for the Oaks].”

Clover, who is based in Newmarket, began training in 2016 and is looking forward towards running what is officially the best horse he's had through his hands in the Oaks.

He added, “I've been very happy with her and we just hope for a smooth run-up. You know what it's like with horses, until you get there and put the saddle on and get in the paddock, there's so much that could go wrong. I'm pleased with her work and we're really excited to run her.”

John and Thady Goden appear to have a stranglehold on the Oaks with Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a short-priced 10-11 ante-post favourite, and 9-2 chance Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) heading the betting for the Epsom Classic.

The post Clover to Roll The Big Dice With Rogue Millennium in the Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post