Lady Alexander triumphed for the Con Collins stable at Goodwood yesterday and helped to restore the reputation of the Aidan O'Brien-trained 2,000 Guineas contender King Of Kings.

King Of Kings' hopes of lifting the Classic appeared to be seriously dented when he was surprisingly defeated by Lady Alexander at the Curragh last month.

But the form was put in a much better light as Lady Alexander overcame a drop back to the minimum distance to seize the Jockey Club Of Kenya Molecomb Stakes. In the front rank for most of the journey in the Group Three contest, the filly demonstrated great battling qualities to deny Mugello by half a length under a brilliant ride by Pat Shanahan.

"It gives me great pleasure to come here and it's great to come and collect again," said Collins, who won the corresponding event two years ago with Almaty and sent out Raphane to finish second in the Richmond Stakes 12 months ago.

"Lady Alexander is as tough as old teak and I'm sure the King of Kings team will be delighted that she's managed to do it."

Owner-breeder Noel Callaghan, paying his visit to Goodwood, said: "When we took on King of Kings we thought the race would cut up and the idea was to get some black type. As it turned out we got a bonus and won the race as well. I didn't back in that race but I had a good bet on her today."

Connections are now keen to return Lady Alexander to a longer trip and have pinpointed the seven furlong Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh next month as a possible target.

The Globetrotter Handicap was most enjoyed by the bookmakers. It was won by Paul Cole's second string Future Perfect, a 25 to 1 chance, and he was followed home by 12 to 1 shot Supply And Demand. Atlantic Desire, at 20 to 1, was third while 33 to 1 shot Calypso Grant filled fourth spot.

Future Perfect survived some scrimmaging at the two-furlong pole which almost saw him and Kieren Fallon's mount Generous Gift come to grief.

Future Perfect's jockey Chris Rutter said: "Myself and Kieren very nearly came down two furlongs after the start - it was noses to the ground stuff."

Cole admitted he had preferred the chances of his other runner Bali Paradise, the eventual fifth.

"I didn't think he had much chance drawn one and the other was fancied more because he'd been working well."