Goodwood Preview: Princess ready to cut a dash in Fashion Stakes

The Height of Fashion Stakes takes centre stage on the opening day of Goodwood’s May Festival, and Jordan Princess looks to hold major claims of landing the extended 1m 1f Listed contest (4.25).

The Luca Cumani trained filly shaped with bags of promise on her debut when sixth at Kempton, before landing a mile maiden at Newcastle in good style on her final start last season.

The daughter of Cape Cross then ran an excellent race on her seasonal reappearance in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket when chasing home Investec Oaks favourite Taghrooda.

Although eventually beaten six lengths by the impressive winner, Jordan Princess led briefly a furlong from home in the Listed contest and threatened to make a race of it with John Gosden’s filly until getting outpaced.

It was a solid effort that just about sets the standard for others to aim at in this contest, and with further improvement looking assured, Jordan Princess is taken to prove too strong for Feedyah and Secret Pursuit and book her ticket to the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday, June, 6th, for which she is currently a 25/1 shot with Coral.

Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute and stable jockey Ryan Moore can do little wrong at present, and the unexposed Gothic looks a worthy favourite to provide them with another winner in the 1m 1f handicap (2.40).

The colt had just two starts as a juvenile, and confirmed the promise of his debut run when easily winning a mile maiden on soft ground at Leicester.

The son of Danehill Dancer then shaped better than the bare result indicates when fourth of eight to Windshear on his seasonal reappearance in a handicap at Sandown when looking badly in need off the run.

Although eventually beaten just over 19 lengths, Gothic Dancer shaped nicely until two from home and was not knocked about once it was clear he would not be winning.
The winner, and the runner-up Collaboration, have since gone on to run solid races in the valuable London Gold Cup at Newbury to give the form a solid enough look in the context of this class 4 contest.
The handicapper has also been quick to drop Gothic Dancer by 2lb, and the three-year-old should be up to making an impact off a rating of 83 at this level.