Emily Upjohn bids to make it back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday.
Understandably the dual Group 1 winner is well fancied to put up a bold defence of her Coronation Cup crown and with proven form on the Epsom Downs, it's easy to see why she tops the market in this small yet select field.
The daughter of Sea The Stars looked unlucky when sent off favourite for the Epsom Oaks over today's course and distance two years ago having been touched off in a thrilling finish after fluffing the start. However, she gained some form of compensation at the Surrey venue when running out a commanding winner of this prize on her reappearance twelve months ago.
An excellent second to Paddington in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown followed and whilst she disappointed when well-beaten in the King George at Ascot on her next outing, John and Thady Gosden's mare proved she still had what it takes to mix it at the top-level when a pleasing fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.
"She worked very nicely last week, and I'm pleased with her," said Gosden senior. "It was a very good run I thought earlier in the year in the Sheema Classic, where they played with the pace. I liked the way she finished her race off and she wasn't beaten far.
"It's not easy with fillies in March, training them in the winter, and she'd been off since the previous July, so she needed to get back on track. She ran a lovely race and she's done well physically since then.
He added: "This was always the next step for her. We are trying to follow the same sort of path as last year when she went on to Sandown for the Eclipse and was beaten only half a length by Paddington. I don't know what happened when she ran in the King George after that, but about four of them ran appallingly that day. Take nothing from the winner there, but it was a very strange race."
Luxembourg returns closer to home soil after two disappointing efforts at Riyadh and Meydan. The Aidan O'Brien-trained five-year-old steps back up to a mile and a half for the first time since finishing fourth in the King George last year and although his rider Ryan Moore fully understands Emily Upjohn is the horse to beat, he retains plenty of faith that his mount can prove equal to the challenge if at his best.
"It is obvious that Emily Upjohn is very much the one to beat here," he said in his Betfair blog.
"She was probably at her best when beating Westover in this race last season, she shaped well enough in the Sheema Classic on her return and any drying conditions would just add to her chances.
"But Luxemburg doesn't have much to find with her if he is on his A-game, although he has to bounce back from a modest run in Meydan last time, admittedly. He is a three-time Group One winner and, while his best form has come over 10 furlongs, he showed he stayed this trip when seventh in the Arc on deep ground a couple of years ago.
"If the favourite can be beaten, I'd hope my horse is the one to do it, but I do also respect Feed The Flame, as he was very good when he beat Adelaide River in the Grand Prix de Paris last year. He is dangerous."
The evergreen eight-year-old Hamish and Harry Charlton's mare Time Lock, who sports first-time cheekpieces, complete the field of five.
