Ylang Ylang provided trainer Aidan O’Brien with his sixth win in the Fillies’ Mile (G1) as she got up to deny Shuwari late in the Newmarket group 1 Oct. 13.
Thriller! 👀
Ylang Ylang stays on tenaciously to land the @bet365 Fillies’ Mile at @NewmarketRace under Ryan Moore for Aidan O’Brien. The daughter of Frankel outstays her rivals in the Group 1 showpiece. pic.twitter.com/ga3vZUE9qP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 13, 2023
The daughter of Frankel was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by the runner-up over a furlong shorter in the Rockfel Stakes (G2) last month, but Ylang Ylang relished her first try at the mile trip to reverse the form.
Ryan Moore did well to navigate Ylang Ylang, who was hampered by the hanging See The Fire , out of trouble with the 9-2 shot scoring by half a length from Shuwari, denying trainer Ollie Sangster a maiden group 1 winner from his first runner in top-level company.
Ylang Ylang had disappointed on her first attempt in a group 1 when last of nine in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) on her penultimate start at the Curragh, but was slashed to 10-1 from 33 for the One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Oaks (G1) after demonstrating plenty of stamina at the finish.
Moore, who was winning the race for the third time, told ITV Racing: “I was happy then I lost my cover. I just had to let her stride forward. A horse shifted across her and I just had to change my path. She’s hit the rising ground, got organized, and come home very well.
“She’s a very nice filly. We’ve always held her in high regard. I’d say she’d have no problem going a little bit further. She stays well and she travels good. There’s plenty to look forward to.”
Minding was O’Brien’s last Fillies’ Mile winner to follow up in the Oaks when she landed the Epsom classic in 2016 and on Ylang Ylang’s future prospects the Ballydoyle trainer said: “Rachel’s (Richardson, former jockey and O’Brien work rider) done a wonderful job with her.
“Ryan (Moore) was beautiful on her here the last day and said come back for this race. It all went a little bit pear-shaped for her earlier in the season—obviously the Moyglare went wrong.
“It’s hard for them to come back but she’s classy and very brave. She’s a very exciting filly for next year. I’d say she’s a classic filly. Obviously the lads usually like to start in the Guineas and given how she’s won today, she’ll have no problem getting an Oaks trip either.”
The Fillies’ Mile was the second graded score for Ylang Ylang, who earlier in the year captured the Silver Flash Stakes (G3) in July at Leaopardstown following her Curragh debut win.
