Alexandrova cruises in Yorkshire Oaks

Alexandrova added to her reputation as the best 3-year-old filly in the world at York on Wednesday, when she cruised to an easy victory in the $520,000 Yorkshire Oaks.

Running against older fillies and mares for the first time, Alexandrova added to her victories in the English and Irish Oaks for her third consecutive triumph at 1 1/2 miles in Group 1 company. Despite missing the break under first-time rider Michael Kinane and trailing to the quarter pole, Alexandrova picked off her five rivals one by one to lead at the three-sixteenth pole, defeating the pacesetting Short Skirt by 3 1/2 lengths. Allegretto was another three-quarters of a length behind in third. Alexandrova, who went off as the 4-9 favorite, was timed in 2:32.41 on good to soft ground.

In becoming the first filly to pull off the English/Irish/Yorkshire Oaks triple since Ramruma in 1999, Alexandrova has stamped herself as a filly of extraordinary class. Yet trainer Aidan O'Brien seems to be shying away from running her in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which she would have to face older horses such as Hurricane Run, Shirocco, and Deep Impact. Instead, Alexandrova is likely to make her Arc Day appearance at Longchamp in the 1 1/4-mile Prix de l'Opera, in which she could meet five-time Group 1 winner Alexander Goldrun.

* Earlier on the card, the 9-2 Conquest added to his recent maiden score in landing the juvenile Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes, coming from last-to-first to defeat Wi Dud by three-quarters of a length. Conquest, previously runner-up to Elhamri in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, covered the straight six furlongs in 1:11.81