Emily Upjohn didn’t disappoint her connections or supporters with a wide-margin victory in the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (1m2½f) on the opening day of York’s Dante Festival on Wednesday.

Sent off the odds-on favourite against four rivals after two wins in novice company, jockey Frankie Dettori settled the daughter of Sea The Stars behind pace-setters Luna Dorada and The Algarve, and though initially keen, she quickly settled into a good rhythm.

Turning for home Emily Upjohn was seen travelling well and once asked to put the race to bed the response was impressive, as she hit the front two furlongs out and galloped on strongly to record a five-and-a-half length success over Godolphin’s Life Of Dreams and William Buick.

A crack at the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom on June 3 is now on the agenda for Emily Upjohn, trained by John and Thady Gosden for Tactful Finance and S Roden.

John Gosden said afterwards: “Frankie said the ground was a little tiring for the horses, but she’s handled it. She’s picked up well and the mile and a half [in the Oaks] will be right up her alley. She couldn’t have done it any better.

“She was a bit edgy but settled after a furlong and found a lovely rhythm. I had a lot of respect for the field today.”

Emily Upjohn and Frankie Dettori record a wide-margin victory in the Musidora Stakes at York | Photo: Bill Selwyn


The Gosdens and Dettori doubled up on the day when Juddmonte’s promising colt Samubru made it three wins from as many stars in the three-year-old handicap, defying joint-top weight to score cosily from Snooze n You Lose.

Earlier on the card, the John Quinn-trained Highfield Princess produced a superb performance in the Group 2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes.

Relishing the six-furlong trip, Jason Hart was always prominent on the five-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder and she had too much speed and class for her eight opponents, crossing the line two and three-quarter lengths clear of Spycatcher.

It was a first Pattern-race success for Highfield Princess, owned by Trainers House Enterprises Ltd, and a trip to Royal Ascot could now be on the cards.