Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn to skip Royal Ascot and be 'freshened up' for either Irish Oaks or King George in July; Baaeed set to light up opening day of five-day meeting in Queen Anne Stakes, live on Sky Sports Racing on Tuesday at 2.30pm
Monday 13 June 2022 13:29, UK
Emily Upjohn will not run in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday, trainer John Gosden has announced.
The filly was involved in a thrilling finish to the Oaks at Epsom, giving away plenty of ground at the start and ultimately losing out by a short head to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tuesday.
It was a slight surprise when Gosden last week raised the possibility of a quick appearance, but the decision has now been made to wait for other targets.
Gosden told the Racing Post: "Obviously she got left a long way and then went widest of all in the Oaks.
"We feel Royal Ascot is coming too soon and she will be freshened up for targets at the end of July in either the Irish Oaks or the King George."
Baaeed will face six rivals as he bids to extend his unbeaten record to eight in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes (2.30), the opening event of Royal Ascot, live on Sky Sports Racing.
William Haggas' charge made a perfect return to action when strolling to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Lockinge at Newbury last month and he is a very short price to add another Group One to his tally.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Real World was second that day and he reopposes, along with third Chindit (Richard Hannon) and fifth Sir Busker (William Knight).
Accidental Agent was a shock 33/1 winner of the race back in 2018 for Eve Johnston Houghton and he takes his chance again, with Aidan O'Brien's Order Of Australia and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Lights On completing the line up.
Coroebus, who opened his season with Classic success in the 2000 Guineas, leads 13 contenders for the St James's Palace Stakes (4.20).
Charlie Appleby's charge has so far raced solely at Newmarket, where he has been beaten just once in four starts, and he will have a handful of Guineas also-rans in opposition as fifth Berkshire Shadow (Andrew Balding), sixth Lusail (Hannon), ninth Light Infantry (David Simcock) and 14th Checkandchallenge (Knight) try their luck again.
O'Brien's Aikhal, along with Jim Bolger's Wexford Native and the Irish 2,000 Guineas second New Energy from Sheila Lavery's yard, comprise the Irish challenge, with Haggas fielding two in German Guineas winner Maljoom and Heron Stakes hero My Prospero. Angel Bleu, Bayside Boy and Mighty Ulysses make up the list.
Wesley Ward's Golden Pal leads an international line-up for the King's Stand Stakes (3.40), with the Breeders' Cup winner out to improve on his previous run at the Royal meeting, when beaten a neck by The Lir Jet in the Norfolk Stakes two years ago.
Eight-times Australian Group One winner Nature Strip represents Chris Waller with Ponntos adding a further international dimension for Czech handler Miroslav Nieslanik.
