York Ebor Festival 2015: Yorkshire Oaks preview (15.40)
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Lady Of Dubai looks decent value to provide trainer Luca Cumani with a third success in the feature race on day two of the York Ebor Festival, the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks (15.40).
The filly had useful form as a juvenile and looked a very smart prospect when landing a Listed contest over 1m 2f at Goodwood on seasonal reappearance.
After travelling strongly throughout, Lady Of Dubai showed a smart turn of foot to quickly put the race to bed and win going away by 3 1/4 lengths.
The daughter of Dubawi backed that up with a a career-best performance to finish a cracking third to Qualify in the Investec Oaks over 1m 4f at Epsom.
Lady Of Dubai held every chance a furlong from home before being unable to find any extra, and finished well in front of Jack Naylor and Crystal Zvezda.
There is no reason that she should not confirm the form with those rivals in this 1m 4f contest, and although Lady of Dubai could finish only fifth to Legatissimo in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last time out things didn’t go to plan.
Jockey Andrea Atzeni decided to go for a non-existent route up the inside, and Lady Of Dubai had nowhere to go when the pace quickened.
When a gap did eventually open the race was all but over, and Lady Of Dubai was not given a hard time once it was clear she would not be winning.
I am convinced that Lady Of Dubai is far better than that, and she looks a major player in this judged on her run in the Investec Oaks.
Covert Love is on serious upward curve and rates a big danger to the selection.
The Hugo Palmer trained filly has won all four of her starts this season, and comes into the contest of a career-best performance to land the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
Covert Love was given a superb tactical ride by Pat Smullen and stayed on strongly to beat Jack Naylor by 1 3/4 lengths after getting first run.
The runner-up was arguably given too much to do, but Covert Love impressed with the way she went about her business and is fancied to confirm the placings.
Another big plus is that the daughter of Azamour is 1-1 over course and distance, and with Smullen once gain in the saddle a huge run looks assured.
Of the rest, French raider Sea Calisi is a fascinating contender who should not be underestimated.
Trained by Francois Doumen, the filly only made her racecourse debut back in April and has shown progressive form in four outings.
The daughter of Youmzain was last successful in a decent Group 2 contest at Saint Cloud, and the form of that race gives the unexposed Sea Calisi a big shout.
Coral’s top tip: Lady Of Dubai looks decent value in a wide open renewal of the Yorkshire Oaks. French raider Sea Calisi is a lively outsider
