O'Brien planning York raid

Aidan O’Brien could be double-handed with Peeping Fawn and Alexandrova in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York on August 22.

Peeping Fawn has been on a remarkable upward curve, landing a hat-trick of Group One victories in the Pretty Polly Stakes, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau Stakes this summer.

“Peeping Fawn is in good shape since Goodwood and we are working towards York and the Yorkshire Oaks,” said O’Brien.

“She is also in the Juddmonte at York, but we have George Washington and Dylan Thomas as definite possibles for that.”

On the other hand, Alexandrova, last year’s English and Irish Oaks heroine, won the York race in 2006 but has yet to run this term.

“Alexandrova is coming on nicely and we plan to run in the Yorkshire Oaks, but it will be her first run in a year and she will come on a lot for it,” O’Brien added.

Meanwhile, the Ballydoyle trainer has ruled Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune out of the Great Voltigeur Stakes at the Ebor meeting.

“Soldier Of Fortune is coming along, but he wouldn’t be ready for York,” he said.

Soldier Of Fortune is 4-1 with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 15.