Frankie Dettori resumes Gosden partnership with Irish Oaks return

Frankie Dettori partnered Emily Upjohn in a gallop at Newmarket on Tuesday morning when John Gosden confirmed the Italian would ride the filly in the Irish Oaks on 16 July.

Gosden, who trains in a partnership with his son, Thady, had said he and Dettori were undertaking a “sabbatical”, an announcement that followed several high-profile defeats this season. One of those came on Emily Upjohn in the Oaks when she lost by the barest of margins having stumbled coming out of the stalls.

Much speculation about the future of the Gosden-Dettori partnership has taken place, but the 51-year-old was asked to partner Emily Upjohn in an early-morning gallop on the July Course. Gosden had said at Sandown on Saturday that he had been impressed by Dettori’s attitude since the break and that “he and I will be back together quite sensibly when we’ve passed through this”. That now looks like being a lot sooner than many envisaged, with the Irish Oaks taking place at the Curragh next weekend.

Emily Upjohn had been second-favourite for the King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot but the decision has been taken to keep her against her own sex for the time being. She worked with an older stablemate, pulling nicely clear.

“It was lovely ground and it is in perfect condition for the July meeting. I was very happy with her work and she is pointing towards the Irish Oaks,” said Gosden. “It is nice to get her on to the grass and have a feel of the track. We’ve decided to stay with the three-year-old fillies for the moment. I’ve got a lot of respect for the two Derby winners [Desert Crown and Westover] and the Arc winner [Torquator Tasso] who are all pointing towards Ascot so why not stay with the three-year-old fillies at this stage.”

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