Alexandrova the Great

[my miss storm cat]

From Racing Post.....

Alexandrova could return at York

by Brian Fleming & Neil Morrice
.

AIDAN O'BRIEN said on Monday that last year's dual Oaks heroine Alexandrova was still some way from making her reappearance, but that she could return at York's Ebor meeting next month.

The daughter of Sadler's Wells also won the Darley Yorkshire Oaks last term, and could bid for a repeat win in the Group 1 contest on August 22. She was last seen when finishing third behind Mandesha in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp in October.

"She's a little bit away yet from starting back," said O'Brien on Monday. "All is fine with her, but we have just taken our time and don't have any firm plans, although she could reappear in the Yorkshire Oaks."

This year's beaten Oaks favourite, Passage Of Time, is also making encouraging progress towards a return to action next month.

Henry Cecil will target the Khalid Abdullah-owned filly at either the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on August 4 or the Yorkshire Oaks.

Passage Of Time had to contend with an abscess on her throat when preparingfor Epsom, having landed the Musidora Stakes at York on her reappearance. Connections are encouraged that this ailment has gone, and the owner's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said on Monday: "The abscess on her throat has now cleared up andshe is now back in work and moving well.

“She has a number of engagements including the Nassau, the Yorkshire Oaks and even the Juddmonte, but in all probability we'll be looking at the first two of those as a comeback race."

Passage Of Time's formtook a boost when Soldier Of Fortune landed the Irish Derby on Sunday - when landing a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud last November Passage Of Time beat him by three-quarters of a length.

Another Abdullah-owned horse whose form ties in with Soldier Of Fortuneis Arabian Gulf, who went down by a head to the O'Brien colt in the Chester Vase before side-stepping the Derby.

Grimthorpe added: "He's coming along nicely but there are no definite plans."