FRIENDS REUNITED
Frankie Dettori and old boss John Gosden team up for the first time in a year with big Breeders’ Cup hope Emily Upjohn
Dettori gets the leg up on the mare this weekend
FRANKIE DETTORI and John Gosden are getting the band back together at Del Mar.
When Frankie gets the leg up on Emily Upjohn it will be the first time he has ridden for his old boss since this meeting last year and he grinned: “John hasn’t changed a bit - he is still bossing me around!”
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The four-year-old is one of the leading fancies for the Breeders’ Cup Turf this weekend as she takes to the track for the final time before retirement.
The last time she won a race was with Dettori on her back in the Coronation Cup in June last year, and he got reacquainted with his old pal with a gentle gallop around the Del Mar turf track yesterday morning.
Dettori said: “I haven’t ridden Emily for over a year, I think I was the last one to win on her.
“She had a nice look around on the turf, we will probably do a little bit more with her tomorrow and inject some speed into her work. I think she has a great chance.
“It’s great to be back on her again and taking orders from John - like the good old days!”
The Italian, 53, has been based in the US for a year now and he is very much in the swing of Californian life.
He said: “I get up early and go to bed early. My wife Catherine and I are in the gym doing yoga every day.
“It’s not that uncommon to ride well into your 50’s in this country, while back in England everyone is just waiting for you to retire!
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“I needed this challenge, it has really reinvigorated me. It’s not easy, we have been on the road a lot and going around the country with eight suitcases, but it’s been a lot of fun and it’s gone better than I expected.”
Gosden, who arrived in San Diego late on Tuesday night, was on hand to watch Dettori put Emily Upjohn through her paces.
He said: “The jockey is in as good a form as ever. At this stage in his career, this lifestyle is absolutely perfect for him and he is very excited to be back on this filly.
“We’ve decided to roll the dice and have a go at the Turf with her. I think the three turns and longer trip will suit and we think she has an excellent chance.”
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