Goodwood preview: Lady can turn on style in Fashion Stakes

The Height of Fashion Stakes takes centre stage on the opening day of Goodwood’s May Festival, and Lady Of Dubai looks to hold major claims of landing the extended 1m 1f Listed contest (16.25).

Trained by Luca Cumani, the filly shaped with plenty of promise in her first two starts last season before impressively landing a 1m maiden at Newmarket by 3 1/4 lengths.

Lady Of Dubai was stepped up into Listed company on the back of that success, and ran a stormer to be beaten just 1/2 a length by Irish Rookie in a 1m contest at headquarters.

The well-bred daughter of Dubawi ran on strongly to be closing all the way to the line, and the winner has gone on to finish a solid sixth of 18 in the 1000 Guineas before being beaten just 3/4 of a length by Ervedya in the French equivalent.

That is strong form in the context of this contest, and Lady Of Dubai should relish the step up in trip given how she finished off the race.

She also looks the type who will make up into a better three-year-old, and with the stable in fine form can take this en route to better things.

In the 7f handicap earlier on the card (14.40), Mr Win can build on a promising reappearance run to get back on the winning trail.

The Chris Wall trained gelding showed progressive form last season when sent handicapping, finishing an unlucky in-running sixth of 13 over course and distance before bolting up by nine lengths over 7f at at Lingfield.

Mr Win went on to land a 6f handicap at Newmarket in good style by two lengths off a mark of 83 when running on strongly to win with tons in hand, and backed that up with an excellent third of 12 to Telmeyd over 6f at Ascot off his current mark of 92.

The son of Intikhab looked a bit unlucky in the latter, losing ground and momentum when stumbling at the start before running on strongly to be beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

This four-year-old was then off the track for 217 days before running far better than his finishing position suggests when a not knocked about eighth of 13 to Basil Berry at Ascot two weeks ago.

Mr Win travelled well for much of the contest until weakening as lack of race fitness took it’s toll, and that run should have put him spot on for this assignment.

Selections:
14.10: Bobby Wheeler
14.40: Mr Win (NB)
15.15: Gavlar
15.50: Resonant
16.25: Lady Of Dubai (NAP)
17.00: Speedy Boarding
17.35: Fantasy Justifier