Alexandrova Dominates Yorkshire Oaks

Middle-distance specialist Alexandrova completed a group I triple Wednesday when she captured the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-I) by 3 1/2 lengths at York.

Ralling from last to first for jockey Mick Kinane in the 12-furlong event, Alexandrova became the first since Ramruma in 1999 to win the Epsom Oaks (Eng-I), the Irish Oaks Ire-I) and the Yorkshire. She won the three races by a combined margin of 13 1/2 lengths.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly defeated Short Skirt, the only horse to beat her this year, and Allegretto, the second-and third-place finishers who are trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

Kinane had Short Skirt in his sights early in the straight but delayed his winning move until surging to the lead with a furlong to go.

O'Brien, along with owners John Magnier and Michael Tabor, said they plan to give Alexandrova two more starts this season and expect to race her next season as well. She's expected to enter next in the Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I) at Longchamp on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) day. Alexandrova won fro the fourth time in eight starts.

"She is some class of filly," O'Brien told Racing Post after he won his first Yorkshire Oaks. "Mick rode her with super confidence. He let them go. He had no worry at all.

"If she gets to the front too early she is inclined to get lazy. This filly has an extra gear that enables her to pick up horses and that's very rare. We'd love to go for the Prix de l'Opera but we will take it one race at a time."

The winning time was 2:32.41 on good to soft going.