Alexandrova | |
---|---|
Sire | Sadler's Wells |
Grandsire | Northern Dancer |
Dam | Shouk |
Damsire | Shirley Heights |
Sex | Filly |
Foaled | 2003 |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Quay Bloodstock |
Owner | Magnier, Tabor, Smith |
Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
Record | 9: 4-2-2 |
Earnings | £652,264 [1] |
Major wins | |
Epsom Oaks (2006) Irish Oaks (2006) Yorkshire Oaks (2006) | |
Last updated on 27 September 2006 |
Alexandrova (foaled 23 April 2003) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning The Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks in 2006.
Alexandrova is a bay filly bred by Quay Bloodstock in Ireland. [1] She was by Sadler's Wells, fourteen time Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland, and became his twelfth and last English Classic winner. [2] She also became his fifth Oaks Stakes winner, following Salsabil, Intrepidity, Moonshell and Imagine, putting the stallion alongside the late-nineteenth century and early-twentieth century stallion St. Simon as the joint most successful sire of winners of this British classic. [3] She is the fourth winner out of the mare Shouk, whose sire is Shirley Heights. [3]
Alexandrova was purchased on behalf of a Coolmore partnership for 420,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales in 2004. She raced under the colours of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and was trained by Aidan O'Brien. She was ridden by Kieren Fallon in all but one of her starts. [1]
As a two-year-old in 2005, Alexandrova finished sixth in her debut at the Curragh in June, third at Goodwood in July and first at Tralee in August. She was then entered in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, finishing second by a head to Nannina. [1]
In May 2006, Alexandrova had a "spectacular" gallop at Ballydoyle, resulting in her becoming the early 4-1 favourite for The Oaks. [4] She started her three-year-old campaign on May 17 by finishing second to Short Skirt in the Musidora Stakes after clipping heels near the start. [1] In the Oaks, Alexandrova settled into second last in the early running, then swept to the lead with over three furlongs remaining. She won easily by six lengths over Rising Cross, with Short Skirt in third and 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa in fourth. "She just took off with me", said Fallon. "Any filly that wins in the Oaks is very special, and I've been lucky enough to win it three times before today, but I never thought until today that I'd get a feel from a filly in the Oaks like I did from Ouija Board two years ago." [5]
In July, Alexandrova gave O'Brien his first win in the Irish Oaks with a four-length victory. O'Brien said, "She has an electric turn of speed that I have never seen from a filly and she has an amazing '0-60'. You don't mind if they go fast or slow as her change of speed is so rapid. She is really special." [6]
For the Yorkshire Oaks in August, Alexandrova was ridden by jockey Michael Kinane as Fallon was banned from riding in England due to a betting scandal. [6] Facing older fillies and mares for the first time, she settled in last behind a slow pace then swept to the lead to win by 3+1⁄2 lengths. O'Brien said, "She has unbelievable class. When they go slow like that and then kick from the front it can be hard to pick them up but she has that extra gear." [7] She was the first filly to win complete the Epsom, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks triple since 1999. [8]
Alexandrova finished the season with a third-place finish in the Prix de l'Opéra to Mandesha. O'Brien said, "Alexandrova never travelled in the Prix de l'Opéra at any stage, and it just wasn't her for some reason. For a filly with a lot of speed that shouldn't have been the case, and she came back sore after France." [9] She was given a Timeform Rating of 123, just one below top-rated filly Mandesha. [10]
Alexandrova was expected to return to racing at age four, but pulled a muscle before a scheduled start in August 2007 [11] and never raced again. [1]
As of 2016, Alexandrova has produced five named foals: [12]
Sire Sadler's Wells 1981 | Northern Dancer 1961 | Nearctic | Nearco |
---|---|---|---|
Lady Angela | |||
Natalma | Native Dancer | ||
Almahmoud | |||
Fairy Bridge 1975 | Bold Reason | Hail to Reason | |
Lalun | |||
Special | Forli | ||
Thong | |||
Dam Shouk 1994 | Shirley Heights 1975 | Mill Reef | Never Bend |
Milan Mill | |||
Hardiemma | Hardicanute | ||
Grand Cross | |||
Souk 1988 | Ahonoora | Lorenzaccio | |
Helen Nichols | |||
Soumana | Pharly | ||
Faizebad (family: 21-a) [14] |
Sadler's Wells was an American-bred, Irish-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse and outstanding sire. He was the 1984 European Champion miler after winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Phoenix Champion Stakes in that year. He also finished second in the French Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Peeping Fawn is a Champion Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a two-year-old, it took her four tries to break her maiden at age three. Her form then rapidly improved, reflected by a third-place finish in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and a second in The Oaks, followed by four consecutive Group One wins – the Pretty Polly, Irish Oaks, Nassau and Yorkshire Oaks. She was named the Cartier Champion Three-year-old Filly of 2007.
Ramruma is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in the United States, but trained in the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from September 1998 until September 2000. In 1999, Ramruma won five of her six races including three Group One races: The Oaks and the Irish Oaks against other three-year-old fillies and the Yorkshire Oaks in which she also defeated older fillies and mares. Her performances led to Ramruma being named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after failing to win in three starts as a four-year-old in 2000.
Sun Princess (1980–2001), was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and Broodmare. In a career which lasted from September 1982 until October 1984, she ran ten times and won three races. She recorded all her successes at Group One level when a three-year-old in 1983 winning the Classic Epsom Oaks by a record margin of twelve lengths and the Yorkshire Oaks against other females before defeating colts in the St. Leger Stakes. In the same season she was placed in Europe's two most prestigious all-aged races, finishing third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She raced without winning in 1984 before she was retired to stud, where she became the dam of several winners including the Dewhurst Stakes winner Prince of Dance.
Virginia Waters is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from September 2004 to October 2005 she ran twelve times and won three races. After winning once from four starts as a two-year-old, she won the Group Three Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes on her first appearance of 2005. She then recorded her most important success when winning the Classic 1000 Guineas two of her six races including an upset win in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Virginia Waters failed to win her remaining six races, her best results coming when she finished fourth in The Oaks and second in the Matron Stakes. At the end of her three-year-old season she was retired from racing to become a broodmare.
Imagine was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1000 Guineas and The Oaks in 2001. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to June 2001 the filly ran ten times and won four races. As a two-year-old, Imagine ran six times, winning the Group Three C. L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh and finishing second in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. The following spring, the filly was beaten in her first two races before winning the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. Imagine recorded her most valuable success on her final appearance, winning the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She never raced again, but proved to be a successful broodmare.
Love Divine was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 2000. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to June 2001 the filly ran six times and won two races. After being beaten in her only race as a two-year-old, Love Divine won the Listed Lupe Stakes on her three-year-old debut and then won the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She was beaten in her three remaining races, finishing second in the Yorkshire Oaks and fourth in both the Prix Vermeille and the Champion Stakes.
Shahtoush was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 1998. In a racing career which lasted from August 1997 to September 1998 the filly ran eleven times and won three races. Shahtoush won only one minor race as a two-year-old, but showed top-class form when she finished third in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. In 1998 she finished second in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse and then returned to England to win the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She was beaten in her two remaining races, finishing unplaced in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Champion Stakes.
Reams of Verse was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 1997. In a racing career which lasted from July 1996 to October 1997 the filly ran nine times and won five races. Reams of Verse was one of the leading European two-year-old fillies of 1996 when she won three of her four races, including the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and the Fillies' Mile at Ascot. She was unplaced in the 1000 Guineas the following spring but then won the Musidora Stakes at York and the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She was beaten in her two remaining races, finishing fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks and third in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
Moonshell was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 1995. In a racing career which lasted from October 1994 to May 1996, the filly ran five times and won two races. After winning her only race as a two-year-old, Moonshell joined the Godolphin Racing team and spent the winter in Dubai. In the spring of 2005, she returned to England to finish third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and then won the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. Moonshell did not run again as a three-year-old and was well beaten in two races in 1996 before being retired to stud.
Minding is a champion Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2016 European Horse of the Year after winning the Epsom Oaks, 1000 Guineas, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Yesterday was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a two-year-old in 2002, winning a maiden race and being placed in the Debutante Stakes and the Rockfel Stakes before taking the Eyrefield Stakes. In the following spring she won the Irish 1000 Guineas and appeared an unlucky loser when narrowly beaten in The Oaks. She failed to win again but finished placed in the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Opéra and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Moonstone is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her win in the Irish Oaks. Unraced as a two-year-old, her six-race track career lasted from April to October 2008. After finishing second in a maiden race on her debut she ran fourth in the Musidora Stakes and second in The Oaks before recording her first and only victory in the Irish Oaks. She finished unplaced in two subsequent races and was retired from racing at the end of the year. As a broodmare she has produced several good winners including US Army Ranger.
Dark Lomond was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed promise when finishing second on her only run as a juvenile in 1987 and developed into a high-class middle-distance performer and stayer in the following year. She won the Phoenix Oaks Trial and the Pretty Polly Stakes in June 1988 and returned in October to record her biggest victory in the Irish St Leger. After her racing career ended she became a broodmare and had some success as a dam of winners.
Necklace is a British, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She had her greatest success as a two-year-old in 2003 when she won two of her four races including the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. In the following year failed to win but did finish third in the Beverly D. Stakes and fourth in the Epsom Oaks before being retired from racing with a record of two wins from nine starts in four different counties. She had very little success as a broodmare, producing only one minor winner.
Quarter Moon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2001 she showed considerable promise, taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the second of her two starts. In the following year she failed to win but showed top class form to finish second in four Group 1 races: the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau Stakes. After retiring from racing at the end of the year she became a successful broodmare whose foals have included the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies.
Valoris was a French-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After showing promising form without winning a race as a juvenile in 1965 she developed into a top-class performer the following spring when she recorded emphatic victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks. She was well beaten in two subsequent starts and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She later had considerable success as a broodmare.
Long Look was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After showing promising form as a juvenile in 1964 she developed into a top-class performer in the following year. She recorded her biggest win in the Epsom Oaks as well as finishing second in the Irish Oaks, third in the Prix Vermeille and fourth in the 1000 Guineas. As a broodmare she produced three foals, all of which won races.
Sun Cap was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After failing to win as a two-year-old in 1953 she won the Prix Penelope in the following April and then recorded her biggest win in the Epsom Oaks. After her retirement from racing she produced several minor winners but no top-class performers.
Forever Together is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2018 Epsom Oaks.