Emily Upjohn Ruled Out of Dubai Sheema Classic
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Emily Upjohn wins the 2022 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
High-class filly Emily Upjohn has been ruled out of her intended reappearance in the March 25 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan after failing to shine in a final workout in Newmarket on Thursday morning.
Last year's British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) winner had been 5-1 second favorite for the Dubai Sheema Classic and was due to be ridden by Frankie Dettori. John and Thady Gosden will now have to rely on recent Saudi Arabian group 3 winner Mostahdaf to carry the flag in the $6 million contest.
In her latest exercise, Emily Upjohn was ridden by Robert Havlin over a mile on the Cambridge Road Polytrack and finished upsides a decent senior stablemate without setting the world alight.
"Emily Upjohn won't be entered this morning for the Dubai Sheema Classic," John Gosden said. "She has yet to come to her peak condition and we'll wait for early summer targets here. She simply needs more time in the spring to come to herself."
Owned in partnership by Tactful Finance (John Shack) and Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber, the 4-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars captured the 2022 Musidora Stakes (G3) and was runner-up to Tuesday in the English Oaks (G1) before landing her first group 1 triumph in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes in October.