Frankie Dettori booked to ride Emily Upjohn - but John Gosden says star mare will head for an alternative Breeders' Cup target

Frankie Dettori is to renew acquaintances with the John and Thady Gosden team as he has been booked to ride his old ally Emily Upjohn in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

The US-based rider partnered the five-year-old to her two Group 1 wins in Britain in the Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in 2022 and the Coronation Cup at Epsom last year and will take over from Kieran Shoemark, who has ridden her on all six starts this year.

Emily Upjohn finished an excellent third to subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe one-two Bluestocking and Aventure in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp last month and has since enjoyed a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford on Thursday to put her spot on for her California trip.

Frankie Dettori: superior local knowledgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dettori rode the Gosden-trained Inspiral to success at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita a year ago and it is his superior local knowledge that has led to the jockey change on Emily Upjohn.

John Gosden said on Friday morning: "Frankie Dettori rides Emily Upjohn. Obviously he is over there riding at the moment and knows the Del Mar track very well. He also knows the filly very well."

Emily Upjohn is a 7-1 chance for the Turf with Paddy Power, but is also a general 9-4 favourite for the Filly & Mare Turf.

John Gosden with Frankie DettoriCredit: Edward Whitaker

Emily Upjohn is due to ship out to California on Saturday and Gosden added: "Emily Upjohn worked well at Chelmsford yesterday and all being well she will be running in the Turf over a mile and a half."

On the reasoning behind going for the Turf, he said: "Del Mar is the tightest turf course in America. It was built many years ago inside the dirt track, which itself is tight.

"Consequently, it has the shortest turf straight in America, which is why we are running in a mile and a half, as the starting gate is better positioned in that contest than the Filly & Mare Turf."

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