'Enable talk silly, but Emily Upjohn in Taghrooda class' - Gosden on Oaks fancy

John Gosden stopped short of putting red-hot Cazoo Oaks favourite Emily Upjohn in the same bracket as previous Epsom darling Enable, but did compare her to 2014 heroine Taghrooda after seeing her exercise stylishly at the Surrey track on Monday morning.

Gosden and son Thady were up at the crack of dawn to head to Epsom for the Cazoo Derby gallops morning – an event the yard used successfully with Taghrooda, who also went on to capture the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes eight years ago.

A year later Gosden's Golden Horn warmed up for his successful Derby bid by doing the same and the leading trainer was thrilled with how his Musidora winner went under Frankie Dettori, while stable stalwart Robert Havlin was on an unnamed lead horse.

Owned by Tactful Finance and Stuart Roden, Emily Upjohn is 10-11 in places for the Oaks, although some firms offer evens.

Cazoo Oaks: racecard, entries and betting

Gosden said: "She's had three races in her life and Frankie thought it would be nice to come here and have a look and feel of the track, which is all you're doing.

"We've done it before and she behaved great and moved very well. She got her leads right coming down the hill and quickened up nicely.

"I think mentally she'll benefit a lot from coming here. I think she rather enjoyed her morning out. We left before the rush hour and we'll get her back after the rush hour.

"She'd be happy on good ground, but I hope we don't get torrential rain. That would be unfortunate, but good, good to soft would be fine, and she'd handle it rattling quick.

"I hope she has the speed for the Oaks. She's shown she has a change of gear, and she quickened well in the Musidora."

Gosden also has 5-1 shot Nashwa for the race on Friday week but he added: "The two have never worked together and it wouldn't be my intention to do so. This filly is guaranteed to get a mile and a half but with Nashwa and the speed she shows, it's not guaranteed. They are different types of fillies."

Gosden at Epsom on Monday morningCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Gosden last won the Oaks in 2019 with Anapurna but his greatest winner of the race was Enable, whose 2017 triumph began a dream run for her that yielded an Irish Oaks, two King Georges, a brace of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes and a memorable Breeders' Cup Turf victory.

"I think Emily Upjohn is in the Taghrooda league," he said. "It would be silly to start talking about Enable, that would be completely over the top, but she's in that Taghrooda league. She's got the ability to travel over the trip and I know they were playing there, going a nice half-speed, but even the way she quickened between the two and the one was impressive."

Gosden, long part of the fabric of British Flat racing, recognises the importance Derby weekend will play as part of the celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee next week.

"It is important for our sport and there's no doubt the Queen is a huge supporter of racing with a deep knowledge and passion for it and breeding," he said.

Watch: Emily Upjohn storms to Musidora Stakes triumph

Cazoo Oaks (4.30 Epsom, June 3)

Coral: Evens Emily Upjohn, 4 Tuesday, 5 Nashwa, 6 Concert Hall, 7 With The Moonlight, 10 Thoughts Of June, 12 Tranquil Lady, Above The Curve, History, Life Of Dreams, 20 bar

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday