A win in the royal colours at Ascot would be 'pretty amazing' - John Gosden

John Gosden has said a winner in the Queen’s colours at Royal Ascot during Platinum Jubilee year would be "pretty amazing" with royal candidate Reach For The Moon being primed for the Hampton Court Stakes.

The one-time leading Derby fancy was forced to miss a dream date at Epsom last Saturday due to a slow recovery from an injury he sustained last autumn, but is now on track for the Group 3 next Thursday.

Reach For The Moon came through a prep race for the 1m2f contest in the Listed Heron Stakes over a mile at Sandown last month when he finished runner-up to the St James’s Palace-bound My Prospero.

Gosden, who is joint-trainer of the Sea The Stars colt with son Thady, said: "If Reach For the Moon could win at Royal Ascot in Platinum Jubilee year it would be pretty amazing, it really would.

"When you sustain an injury like he did you have to take things very gently and the Derby just wasn’t going to happen in time for him.

"It was a disappointment to miss Epsom but the Queen was keen to do everything right by the horse, which made things simple for us to get a run into him at Sandown and then onto Royal Ascot. The plan is to run him in the Hampton Court Stakes."

Inspiral (Frankie Dettori) works on the Limekilns gallopsNewmarket 9.6.22 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Clarehaven team will have runners in most of the Group 1 contests next week including in the Coronation Stakes on Friday, which will have added interest as it is set to host the highly anticipated return of top-class juvenile filly Inspiral.

As well as being forced to skip the 1,000 Guineas, the unbeaten daughter of Frankel has missed engagements in recent weeks as she has taken time to come to hand, but looked to be nearing her peak in a workout on Thursday.

"Inspiral did a nice piece of work at second lot under Frankie [Dettori] and the plan is to run her back in the Coronation Stakes. It looks a hot race with Homeless Songs in there and she’s been very slow coming to hand," Gosden added.

"It can happen to some fillies in the spring hormonally, but she’s going the right way now. Mr Weld's will be favourite for the race I would imagine and we’ll give them plenty of respect."

Tuesday (Ryan Moore) beats Emily Upjohn (Frankie Dettori) in The OaksEpsom 3.6.22 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

The team is considering bolstering its already strong Ascot team with the addition of last week’s unlucky Epsom Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn, who is a possible contender for the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes.

The daughter of Sea The Stars seemed fresh when cantering in front of the press at a media event on Warren Hill on Thursday morning and could be given an early opportunity to atone for her unfortunate defeat at the hands of Tuesday.

Sent off the 6-4 favourite that day to back up her impressive trial success in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York in May, Emily Upjohn was playing catch up after stumbling and losing many lengths at the start.

Despite being last turning for home, Emily Upjohn came the long way around on the stands’ side but was just run out of it by the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner.

Gosden said: "Things didn’t exactly go smoothly for Emily Upjohn at Epsom and we are considering the Ribblesdale for her as she seems to have come out of the race well.

"It’s a tight turnaround but it’s been done before and Star Of Seville won the French Oaks only nine days after running at Epsom, so we’ll see."

Emily Upjohn: an unlucky loser in the Oaks last weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "The Ribblesdale is a very important race. The other options mean you have to wait until the end of July for races like the Irish Oaks then wait until the Yorkshire Oaks.

"She’s fine, is looking well and eating well and you just saw her canter up there so we’ll keep the options open. We’ll leave her in at the five-day stage take it from there."

Others on the formidable Gosden team include Stradivarius (Gold Cup), Lord North (Prince of Wales's Stakes) and My Ulysses (St James's Palace Stakes).

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