Goodwood, England: The regally named Lady Of Dubai can on Saturday become the eighth Dubai-owned winner of the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, a ten-furlong contest for fillies and mares that is an excellent way to finish the week at Glorious Goodwood.
Luca Cumani trains the daughter of Dubawi for former Derby-winning owner Shaikh Mohammad Obaid Al Maktoum, who is joined by Saeed Manana’s Bright Approach in the £200,000 (Dh1.14 million) feature race.
The Dubai pair face seven rivals headed by 1,000 Guineas (G1) heroine Legatissimo, who will be looking to settle a score with stable companion Diamondsandrubies following her defeat in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, last month.
Cumani, who won the Nassau Stakes 20 years ago with Free Guest, issued an optimistic bulletin about Lady Of Dubai, who was third behind Qualify in the Epsom Oaks (G1) last month.
“She was fine after her run in the Oaks. She is a course and distance winner at Goodwood, which counts for a lot,” said the veteran Italian handler.
“There were not many places we could go after the Oaks and we decided that we would bring her back from a mile-and-a-half for her next race to go for this.
“We will see how she gets on in the Nassau before deciding on the Yorkshire Oaks.”
The Nassau Stakes traditionally attracts high-quality runners and in recent years has been won by the likes of The Fugue (2012), Midday — the only three-time winner of the contest after successes in 2009, 2010 and 2011 — and Ouija Board (2006).
Other notable runners in the race included Prix de Diane victor Star Of Seville, who is one of three representatives for John Gosden, along with Bright Approach and Jazzi Top.
The 2015 Derby-winning trainer is seeking a fourth successive win in the race following The Fugue (2012), Winsili (2013) and Sultanina (2014).
Gosden said: “Star Of Seville obviously ran a great race in the Prix de Diane. We are aware this a high-quality race against some proper fillies though.
“Bright Approach has been off for a long time but she’s been working well.
“I was keen to start her back on some nice ground and get her out there. I’m delighted Hughesie [Richard Hughes] can ride her in what will be his last Group One.”
Meanwhile, a strong field of 16 horses has been declared for the Group 1 International Stakes for Purebred Arabains.
This is the first time the race is being staged as part of the Goodwood Festival. It is also the first leg of the inaugural Doha Triple Crown, a valuable new initiative with a $1 million (Dh3.67 million) bonus for any horse that can claim all three races.
The second leg is the 2000-metre Qatar Arabian World Cup, run at Longchamp in October, with the final leg in Doha in February the 2400-metre HH The Emir’s Sword.
UAE hopes surround Sir Bani Yas, who is owned by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He is trained by Elisabeth Bernard in the name of her late husband, Jean Francois, who passed away earlier this year. It would be an emotional moment at Goodwood should the son of the Qatari-owned stallion Amer win the prestigious contest.
