Alexandrova aiming for Oaks double
Aidan O’Brien is relying on Alexandrova to give him an elusive first success in the Darley Irish Oaks on Sunday.
The Ballydoyle trainer has had several horses placed in the fillies’ Classic at the Curragh but has yet to open his account.
However, in Alexandrova he will be saddling a likely odds-on favourite who will be bidding to follow up her victory in the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.
Alexandrova is 4-7 with William Hill to emulate Ouija Board, who won at both Epsom and the Curragh two years ago, and O’Brien reported his filly to be in tip-top shape.
“She is lovely and in great form. I don’t think the ground will bother her - she didn’t mind it at Epsom, although she does bend her knee,” he said.
“There have been no problems and so far everything has been good, touch wood.”
She defeated Rising Cross by six lengths when winning at Epsom and although the runner-up has since finished unplaced in the Italian Oaks, trainer John Best reports her to be in fine fettle.
“Iwas hoping Alexandrova would run and frighten a few off. It has done to a certain extent,” said the Maidstone trainer.
“Our filly’s in great form, she’s come back from Italy fine, but it’s tough.
“At home you wouldn’t say she was a Group One horse but she’s proved it. We’ve got to take our chances when we can. I hope she can prove herself on Sunday.
“She’s working really well and everything’s fine. She travels well when you go anywhere like this so I’m hoping she’ll run her race and hopefully Alexandrova may be on a bad day.”
William Haggas is hoping his Ribblesdale Stakes winner Mont Etoile can prove up to the task.
“She seems all right and travelled over on Thursday and arrived on Friday lunchtime,” said the Newmarket trainer.
“There are only six runners but it is still a tough race.
“She is improving and stays well so fingers crossed.”
Sir Mark Prescott’s Confidential Lady will have to overcome stamina doubts to add the Irish Oaks to her success in the French equivalent.
The daughter of Singspiel won the Prix de Diane Hermes over an extended mile and a quarter at Chantilly and now steps up to a mile and a half at the Curragh on Sunday.
“I thought she got the trip well in the Diane and nothing was gaining on her,” Prescott told At The Races.
“Where the pace comes from will be crucial. I expect Aidan’s team will want a strong gallop. Their filly (Alexandrova) stays well so I think it will be a good gallop.
“If I was Aidan I’d be worried we might have too much speed. We’ve got a chance and if you look at the French Oaks nothing is making ground on her from behind.
“She came out of the race very well and I haven’t had to hurry her one bit to get her ready for Sunday.
“She’s very versatile, very tough and she may or may not stay, but she’s perfectly entitled to take her chance.”
Chris Richardson, managing director of owners the Cheveley Park Stud, added: “They are fantastic times for the stud at the minute and we are getting a bit blasé about it all!
“We seem to be going from Group One to Group One. The difficulty of course its that it’s a mile and a half for the first time.
“She’s third on the books but we’ll find out if she truly stays, if she doesn’t we’ll drop her back in distance for the Nassau if she comes out of this one OK. There are plenty of races for her.”
A small but select field is completed by Ribblesdale runner-up Scottish Stage, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and a second Irish runner, rank outsider Flyingit who is trained by ThomasMullins and still a maiden after 11 starts.
Darley Irish Oaks betting:
William Hill: 4-7 Alexandrova, 9-2 Scottish Stage, 5-1 Confidential Lady, 10-1 Mont Etoile, 16-1 Rising Cross, 150-1 Flyingit.
