2022 Epsom Oaks News - Key Quotes From Connections

"I think Emily Upjohn is in the Taghrooda league. 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."

"She's had three races in her life and Frankie thought it would be nice to come here (Epsom open day) 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."

"She won well on reappearance at Haydock over the mile. It's obviously a step up in grade for her, but she has come on for the run and we've been really happy with her at home."

"She's a very likable filly, who is always trying to please. She has a good mind and tries her heart out, like all Frankel's seem to."

"The two (Nashwa and Emily Upjohn) 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."

“I think Hollie (Doyle) is a superb jockey and she reminds me a lot of Julie Krone."

“From my point of view she’s the ultimate jockey type and she looks into every detail. We had a young lady win the American Open (Tennis) and everything like that is a real positive, particularly in a sport that’s had an image of being crusty and clubby.”

"The Salsabil Stakes was a little bit slowly run. We'd have preferred a tougher trial and if you watch it, that race didn't suit her. She really stepped up when she got a strong gallop." 

"Frankie (Dettori) got off her at Newmarket and said Irish Guineas, and that she could even get a mile-and-a-quarter. She's not three until June (Oaks day), she was an incredibly late foal."

When she won her maiden at Naas we didn't think that she would make the Guineas, or anything like it, but every week she came forward and forward. Her sister won the Oaks after the Irish Guineas. Fillies who have had a few runs early, they don't mind backing up a little bit close and for the Classics, you have to be fit and hardy."

"She's a big filly. A big open, pure galloping, mile-and-a-half filly. Big stride. Very genuine. She's massive, and improving all the time."

"She's so big we weren't sure she'd get around Chester, but she did, she went around there and she wasn't for stopping. We thought it was a big run out of her."

"With The Moonlight has definitely come forward since her win at Newmarket and we have been delighted with her preparation. We are going into the unknown stepping up to a mile and a half, although all the signs so far have indicated that this distance should be within her compass.

“Any more rain wouldn’t be a positive for her chances but she won’t look out of place in the field and, if she stays, we feel that she is going to be a player.”

“We were hoping for a big run in Navan and we were disappointed. This was Plan B to come here (The Blue Wind Stakes), to be honest, but she came out of Navan well and we thought it was a suitable race.”

“I don’t know why she didn’t really fire in Navan, it wasn’t a bad run and it was probably a good race but we were hoping for more and it’s nice to see her doing it today.”

“I was a bit worried about the ground and (owners’ racing manager) Richard (Ryan) convinced me to run her. I don’t think she wants it too soft but she handled it well and Dylan gave her a lovely ride. We think she’s a nice filly and she looked it today."

“Rogue Millennium seems very well, I’m very pleased with her.” 

“She physically looks great, I think she’s come on since Lingfield. She continues to improve and all being well she’s very much on course."

“I’ve been very happy with her, we just hope for a smooth run-up. You know what it’s like with horses, until you get there and put the saddle on and get in the paddock, there’s so much that could go wrong."

“I’m pleased with her work and we’re really excited to run her.”

"We did consider coming here (Prix Saint Alary) but I'm glad we didn't because the ground is quick. I just think the ground on Oaks day will be better because they’ve got the Derby the next day."

"I think my filly has come on a lot for that run (Prix Cleopatre. I think she’ll stay a mile and a half. She's relaxed, I think she’ll handle Epsom because she’s neat and well-balanced. You never really know till you try."