York Wednesday

EMILY Upjohn (John & Thady Gosden) is named after the hypochondriac female lead in the Marx Brothers’ madcap comedy A Day At The Races, but she didn’t look to have too much ailing her as she stormed to a most impressive win in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes under Frankie Dettori.

The daughter of Sea The Stars was backed as if defeat was out of the question, going off 4/7 favourite, and although she took quite a fierce hold in the early stages, she applied herself well when Dettori sent her off in pursuit of leader Luna Dorada at the top of the straight, and she powered away in the last two furlongs to win by five and a half lengths from Godolphin’s Life Of Dreams (Charlie Appleby/Will Buick).

The winner was slashed to 6/4 favourite for the Oaks immediately after the race, but was still supported at that price, and is now no bigger than 11/8 for the Epsom classic.

John Gosden said: “It’s interesting that Frankie said the ground was quite tiring after the little bit of rain they’ve had on it. A few of them were struggling four or five out.

“Frankie waited to go, and she’s picked up well and looked like a mile and a half would be right up her alley. She couldn’t have done it any better really.

“She was saddled in the stables at Sandown and saddled in the stables at Wolverhampton, so it’s the first time she’s been saddled in front of a crowd today and she got a bit edgy.

“But I think she settled after a furlong and found a lovely rhythm, which is what it’s all about.”

THE Group 2 Duke of York Stakes is one of the highlights of the Dante meeting, with the sight of high-class sprinters thundering down the straight a fine one for the time of year.

The track’s patrons certainly got their money’s worth as the locally-trained Highfield Princess (John Quinn/Jason Hart) blitzed her rivals for late speed to confirm that she remains progressive and fully effective at sprint trips having made her breakthrough in handicap company over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot last summer.

There was late money for the daughter of Night Of Thunder, and she was sent off an 11/2 shot behind market leaders Minzaal (Owen Burrows/Jim Crowley) and Dragon Symbol.

The latter faded badly late on, but Minzaal did best of those racing on the stands’ side to finish third, a length behind runner-up Spycatcher (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee), and three and three-quarter lengths behind the impressive winner.

Highfield Princes pressed Dragon Symbol to halfway before being sent on, and the response was impressive, even if there was some advantage in racing away from the others.

Winning owner/breeder John Fairley was delighted with this win, saying:

“Living in Yorkshire as long as I have, to win a group race like that, at York, was tremendous. We entered her for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. It was an act of over-confidence as you have to pay a penny or two, but it looks a bargain now.”

Michael Dods’ sterling compaigner Dakota Gold was a popular winner of the six-furlong sprint.

He started quickly, and was prominent on near side of group, and though hard pressed in the final furlong, he kept on well inside final furlong, just did enough at odds of 18/1.