Twelve months on from an agonising defeat in the Oaks Emily Upjohn (11/4) and Frankie Dettori set their Epsom record straight with an outstanding performance in this afternoon’s Group 1 Coronation Cup.
It was a second Group 1 victory in as many starts for the John and Thady Gosden-trained superstar filly as she returned to the track 230 days on from her British Champions Fillies & Mares success.
William Buick and Hurricane Lane crossed to the far side rail from an early stage and the field soon began to take shape.
With Hurricane Lane and Point Lonsdale cutting out the early running for much of the contest Frankie Dettori was in no rush under his filly as the pair watched on from the rear of the field.
Rob Hornby looked content with his position on Westover while the German raider, Tunnes, raced freely alongside.
The tempo increased turning for home with leaders Hurricane Lane and Point Lonsdale both coming off the bridle at an early stage.
The eyes were drawn to Ralph Beckett's 2022 Epsom Derby runner-up Westover as the split opened halfway down the straight, but it soon became clear that Emily Upjohn had the move covered.
Frankie Dettori urged his mount to the front approaching the two-pole and the response was electric. The daughter of Sea The Stars bounded to the front under hands and heels riding and readily drew clear for an eased down one-and-three-quarter-length success.
The Ralph Beckett-trained Westover (5/2F) proved much the best of the remainder back in second with Aidan O'Brien's Point Lonsdale (7/2) finishing a further seven-and-a-half-lengths behind in third.
Having lost several lengths at the start when beaten a short-head in the Oaks last season the Italian-born rider admitted it was certainly on his mind by stating: "When I was in the stalls I was thinking 'please don't sleep today'!
"Everything went wrong in the King George, she was too free, she didn't breathe.
The key with her is to get her to switch off. We kept the hood on her after a long discussion, she relaxed beautifully.
She's a big girl so I got her ready at the top of the hill and by God did she quicken....wow.....she was impressive.
"She kept it up right to the line and myself and Rob (Hornby, jockey of Westover) pulled well clear of the third so that was a great performance.
"She does feel better (than last year), she does feel stronger but it's in her mind you know. She was fighting herself too much last year and is learning to relax a bit more and when she does that she is very good."
Paddy Power go 5/1 from 8/1 for the Hardwicke Stakes and 6/1 from 8/1 for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. However, the 6/1 on show for her to land the Coral Eclipse at Sandown post-race was what attracted punters the most as she was soon cut to 7/2.
