Beckett Eyes British Champions Day for You Got To Me After Yorkshire Oaks Defeat

Ralph Beckett has set his sights on Qipco British Champions Day as a potential next target for his Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me, after the filly had to settle for second place in a thrilling Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks. The Valmont and Newsells Park Stud-owned star was narrowly outpaced by Aidan O’Brien’s Content, who reversed the form from their previous encounter at the Curragh.

You Got To Me had delivered a career-best performance when claiming Classic glory in the Irish Oaks, defeating Content in the process. However, on this occasion, it was O’Brien’s Galileo filly who showed her class, overcoming early keenness to finish powerfully on the Knavesmire.

Reflecting on the race, Beckett was philosophical in defeat: “I think she was beaten by the better filly. I’ll have to watch the race again, but it looked like the winner was on the other side. There’s an element of that, but I wouldn’t make too many excuses.”

Despite coming up short, Beckett was pleased with how his filly has developed over the season. “She’s run well again, and we’d have to consider the Fillies & Mares race at Ascot on Champions Day. Whether we have another run before then, we’ll have to see, but she was far more settled today, which is a positive.”

Beckett could be hoping You Got To Me can go one better than her stablemate Bluestocking, who was narrowly denied in the same race at Ascot last year.

Meanwhile, John and Thady Gosden’s Emily Upjohn also produced a commendable effort, bouncing back from her disappointing Nassau Stakes run. Ridden by Kieran Shoemark, the mare raced prominently but was unable to fend off the younger fillies in the closing stages, eventually finishing third.

John Gosden was encouraged by her performance: “I said after Goodwood that we’d take the hood off her and let her enjoy herself, which we did. She ran a lovely race, but giving 9lb to improving three-year-olds at this time of year is tough. The Irish Oaks winner and second have confirmed their class.”

Shoemark found himself left alone in front sooner than ideal, with the Gosdens’ pacemaker setting things up for Ryan Moore aboard Content. “The last furlong was a long way home, but never forget the weight difference,” added Gosden. “Enable managed it at three and returned to win as an older horse, but it’s not easy.”

With Emily Upjohn showing signs of returning to her best, a trip to ParisLongchamp for the Prix Vermeille is now on the agenda. “She’s run a valiant race, and she’s getting back to her very best. We’ll likely head to Longchamp in mid-September. There’s still time for her to return to the winner’s enclosure this season.”

Gosden also provided an update on Emily Upjohn’s stablemate Queen Of The Pride, who struggled to find her rhythm in the Yorkshire Oaks. “It all happened a bit quickly for her, so we’ll step her up in trip for the Park Hill at Doncaster. Her mother won the Leger there, and I think she’ll appreciate that distance,” he said.

With British Champions Day looming, the stage is set for some intriguing battles as these top-class fillies continue their campaigns towards the season’s defining moments.