Aidan O’Brien looks to have yet another horse with Classic credentials as Ylang Ylang stayed on best to land the Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Friday, earning herself quotes of 10/1 for both the 2024 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks with Paddy Power.
The daughter of Frankel was all the rage in the early Classic markets having backed up her impressive debut performance on the Curragh with a comfortable victory in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown in July. Those efforts saw Aidan O'Brien's filly jump to the head of betting in next season's 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks betting, but a bitterly disappointing run in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes left plenty of questions.
It was a step back in the right direction when she stayed once nicely into third from an uncompromising position in the Rockfel Stakes last-time-out, but O'Brien's charge still had to reverse the placings with the reopposing Shuwari.
However, stepping up in trip back on a surface that featured more ease in the ground proved key, as Ylang Ylang demonstrated her worth in Classic chats once more with a taking performance on a blustery Rowley Mile.
Stablemate Brilliant made her way to the head of affairs and ensured the pace was a true one as eight fillies' set out on the mile-straight journey.
Front-runner Brilliant faded out of contention, and it was See The Fire who looked the most likely winner coming out of the dip. Andrew Balding's May Hill runner-up shifted left-handed, doing no favours to either Shuwari, who mounted her challenge towards the stands' side rail, or Ylang Ylang, who was a few lengths down at the time and was forced to switch off the heels of the leader by Ryan Moore.
Ollie Sangster's Rockfel Stakes runner-up stuck her nose in front with half a furlong to travel but all the while the eye was drawn to Ryan Moore, who kicked his mount into top drive and produced the Frankel filly with a well-time sweeping run to take the advantage close home. Both Shuwari and See The Fire kept the O'Brien-trained charge honest but she was always doing enough and hit the line with purpose for a commanding half-length success.
O'Brien, who was saddling a record-equalling sixth winner in the Group 1 juvenile fillies' prize, said: "Ryan was beautiful on her the last day, and he got her to relax and said come back for this race. It all went a little bit pear-shaped midway through the season in the Moyglare. She is classy and very brave.
"The lads usually like to start them in the Guineas, but looking at her today she will have no problem getting the Oaks trip. Ryan gave her a brilliant ride as always. He was very calm on her and collected. The last day he gave her a beautiful ride. He educated her and he was happy after getting off of her what to do with her. She was a bit keen in the Moyglare as she made the running the first two times, but when her chance was gone Ryan looked after her. She then came back here for education and the way the race worked out anyone that dropped in it was hard to get into the race, but Ryan was delighted with her, and he said come back for this race.
"She is a filly really to look forward to. When her season got interrupted like that, she wouldn't have been at her 100 per cent best today as she was coming here for education for next year more than today being the be-all and end-all. Ryan was brilliant when it got a little bit rough and a little bit bumpy. He still didn't panic, and he knew when to ask for that final effort. She was very impressive.
"We knew the first two times we would have preferred to get a lead. The great thing in the Moyglare was that Ryan was riding her and he knew very quickly what was going to happen and he accepted it and looked after her. We didn't want to finish the year on that type of run, and we didn't want to go into the winter thinking that she didn't know if she was coming or going so that is why we came back here the last day. She is very exciting really.
"Looking at her today she will have no problem starting in the Guineas and getting the Oaks trip."
Winning jockey Ryan Moore, who was winning the contest for a third time after Minding [2015] and Rhododendron [2016], told ITV Racing: "My filly relaxed nicely, and I was following Shuwari. I was happy but then I lost my cover, so I just let her stride forward.
"The race started developing from a long way out. I was coming and then both horses drifted across her and I had to change my path. When she hit the rising ground, she got organised and she has done it well.
"She is a high-class filly and has always been held in high regard. Her last run was a nice run for today and I am delighted that is has worked out.
"I'd say she'd have no problem going a bit further as she stays well and travels good. There is plenty to look forward to."
Ollie Sangster, trainer of the runner-up Shuwari, said: "I was very happy, and she ran a great race. She saw out the trip well I think we just got outstayed in the last 50 yards by Ryan and obviously that is a very good filly. I think she liked the ground as it wasn't that soft. Everything went well apart from the fact we didn't win.
"That will be her for the season and I suppose we will work back from the 1000 Guineas. I wouldn't be afraid of pitching straight up into a 1000 Guineas as she is a straightforward filly to train. The dream is still alive. It is frustrating to come so close, but equally, we are delighted to be here in the first place.
"If someone had asked me at the start of the year if we would have had a runner in a Group 1, I would have been thrilled. I hope she will get her day as she is a hard-working filly."
Andrew Balding, trainer of third-placed See The Fire, said: "She travelled strongly, but she got there sooner than Oisin wanted to. She just tired late on but she is an exciting filly, and we are looking forward to next year.
"I think we will look towards the 1000 Guineas with her."
