Goodwood racegoers enjoy the action
Roger Charlton is considering one of the four Listed contests at Goodwood next week for recent course scorer Be My Gal.
The track’s three-day May Festival starts next Thursday, when the highlight is the £40,000 Bibendum Height Of Fashion Stakes.
The near 10-furlong contest, restricted to three-year-old fillies, was first run in 2007 when created from out of the ashes of the Lupe Stakes, and has produced some high-class performers, none more so than six-time Group One scorer Snow Fairy who triumphed in 2010 before her Investec Oaks triumph.
Be My Gal, a lightly-raced daughter of Galileo, captured the Conqueror Stakes over a mile at Goodwood’s opening fixture of 2014 on May 3.
She had previously finished second to two John Gosden-trained horses, chasing home Bright Approach in a 10-furlong maiden at Newbury on April 11 and subsequent Group Three victor Western Hymn in a mile maiden at Kempton Park in December.
Charlton reported: “It is certainly possible that By My Gal could go for the Bibendum Height Of Fashion Stakes. She is in a Newbury this Friday, but I don’t think she will run there.
“I was pleased with her in the Conqueror Stakes and she has come out of the race very well. I thought it was a progressive performance – she probably improved five or six lengths on her reappearance at Newbury.
“I wouldn’t have any concerns about stepping back up in trip. She settles well and I think she will get it without too much trouble.”
Charlton enjoyed a double on Goodwood’s first raceday of the year and thus leads the race for the Dick Hern Trophy, awarded to the Sussex course’s leading trainer at the end of the season.
The £40,000 Listed Casco EBF Stallion Cocked Hat Stakes over a mile and three furlongs headlines another seven-race card on Friday, May 23. The contest has again been a good pointer to future stars in recent years with Rewilding (2010) and Masked Marvel (2011) both going on to score at Group One level.
An excellent card on Saturday, May 24, features the £50,000 May Handicap over seven furlongs and a pair of £40,000 Listed events for older horses. The near 10-furlong Festival Stakes has been won by Rainbow Quest and Sixties Icon, while last year’s 12-furlong Tapster Stakes went the way of Frankel’s full-brother Noble Mission.
This is the third year since the meeting reverted to the traditional three days.