Frankie Dettori WINS the Coronation Cup riding Emily Upjohn in front of owner Andrew Lloyd Webber

Frankie Dettori atoned for last year’s mistake at the Coronation Cup to seal victory upon Emily Upjohn in front of the horse’s owner, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

The Italian rider’s farewell tour continued apace with a win on Friday with filly Emily Upjohn going some way to making amends for her disappointing second-place finish at the Oaks last year. 

The filly slipped soon out of the gates, but finished as runner-up despite an impressive recovery to fall agonisingly short. 

And the musical theatre icon was all smiles as he joined Dettori to lift the cup in the glorious June sunshine at Epsom.

Dettori – in his final season in the saddle – also sealed a second Group One prize in the Oaks, the race that saw him narrowly defeated last year, in a glittering day for the fabled rider.

Dettori lifted the Coronation Cup on return to Epsom having come agonisingly short in the Oaks

The legendary Dettori is in his final season in the saddle and enjoyed a glittering day at Epsom

Lord Webber’s horse was a cut above the rest on her return to Epsom after 12 months. 

The 11-4 entry took her time in the early stages of the race, with Dettori drawing on his vast racing experience to keep from jumping the gun too early. 

But with the end drawing closer, the Italian began to urge the filly into a challenge before a frightening turn of pace took her beyond her rivals and over the line to seal a memorable comeback.

‘She’s a big girl so I got her ready at the top of the hill and gosh did she quicken, wow,’ Dettori said of Emily Upjohn after coming home to victory.

‘The change of pace she showed and she kept going right to the line. Myself and Rob (Hornby, on Westover) pulled a long way clear of the third.

‘She feels better this year, she feels stronger, but more importantly she’s better in her mind. She was fighting stuff last year, but she’s ready to relax a bit this year.

‘She’s better in the mornings now but we just let her be, if she wants to have a look she can have a look!’

Westover had begun to close on the eventual winner toward the end, but Emily Upjohn and Dettori managed to stave off the challenge to finish a comfortable length-and-three-quarters clear for the Coronation Cup.

Dettori finished a comfortable length-and-three-quarters clear of Westover to take the Cup

The Italian (right) also avenged his heartbreak from the Oaks last year with victory on Soul Sister this time out

He won the Oaks on Soul Sister to cap a successful day with a Group One double on Friday

‘She did it beautifully,’ said the filly’s trainers John and Thady Gosden Senior. ‘We had planned Dubai (Sheema Classic), but she didn’t come to herself in the spring, so we waited. She’s only just come ready to run, actually, only just now.

‘She probably hit the front too soon and she’s having a really good blow so she should come on for that. She ended up in front because of the way she quickened, she’s a hugely talented filly.

‘The Oaks went wrong last year, but that’s history. She showed that speed early last year and then again in the autumn on soft ground, this is quickening all the time, it’s genuine good to firm and she’s shown a lot of talent over a mile and a half. 

‘It’s nice to bring her back here and win, and Westover had a rough trip here last year in the Derby but take nothing from either winner of the Oaks or the Derby, they were very good.’