Epsom Oaks preview: Those who were in Tralee last August to witness Alexandrova's 10-length demolition of some maiden opposition could yet get the chance to say "they were there" if Aidan O'Brien's filly can land today's Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.

On the face of it this afternoon's classic is further evidence of the hold that O'Brien has over the imagination of the betting public since that Tralee victory is the only time in five starts that Alexandrova has actually won.

But the bare statistics haven't stopped the Sadler's Wells filly being the ante-post favourite for the classic for some time now, a position that even defeat by Short Skirt in last month's Musidora at York couldn't shake.

Delve a little deeper and it's not hard to see why either.

Alexandrova's narrow defeat by Nannina in last year's fillies mile was a better juvenile effort than anything produced by either of O'Brien's previous Oaks winners, Shahtoush (1998) and Imagine (2001.)

There is also the clear impression that she will seriously progress from that York run when she stumbled and became unbalanced in the first 100 yards. And importantly there is also the knowledge that the mile-and-a-half trip will hold no terrors.

All told it's a convincing case for Kieren Fallon's mount and the stamina assurance is one that the Speciosa team especially would give quite a lot for right now.

Pam Sly's 1,000 Guineas winner hasn't seen her Newmarket form advertised since but she is clearly top class and will be the romantic choice to add the Oaks to her classic tally. Jockey Mickey Fenton is confident about her ability to get a mile and a quarter but whatever about old wives' tales about not really needing to fully stay a mile and a half at Epsom, there will be no hiding place for Speciosa today.

With the ground quickening up all the time at the famous old course, Short Skirt will hardly feel as at home on the surface as she did in the Musidora while her stable companion Riyalma will need to improve significantly from her narrow Lingfield victory.

Instead the versatile Time On could be the one to threaten Alexandrova most and unlike the Derby, Frankie's Dettori's record in this Epsom classic is excellent with three Oaks victories already in the bag.

However, it looks worth wagering that Tralee form can be franked at classic level once again. It's only 10 years after all since a colt Desert King won his own maiden at the Kerry track before becoming O'Brien's first Group One and classic winner. And he only did it by three lengths!

O'Brien and Fallon will also try to follow up on last year's Coronation Cup success by Yeats when Ace tackles a quality field in today's renewal. Placed a total of five times at Group One level, Ace is clearly a high quality horse and it will be a surprise if O'Brien doesn't manage to snag a top-flight prize with him somewhere this year. Quicker ground will help him here too but both Shirocco and Ouija Board look very hard nuts to crack.

The latter returns to the scene of her 2004 Oaks triumph but it's the French hope Shirocco who can kick off a remarkable Group One weekend for Andre Fabre and Christophe Soumillon. Chantilly's little emperor has already declared Shirocco to be the possible superior of any of his five previous Coronation Cup winners. Consider that quintet includes the likes of Swain and that statement only magnifies the task in front of Ace.

There will also be Irish interest in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes with the outsider Shersha, trained by Kevin O'Donnell.