All you need to know about the Fillies' Mile as O'Brien closes in on record

Bet365 Fillies' Mile (Group 1) | 1m | ITV4/RUK

The countdown continues at Newmarket today as Aidan O'Brien inches closer to Bobby Frankel's world record of 25 top level wins in one year.

Victory for one of O'Brien's two bet365 Fillies' Mile contenders –Magical or September – will put the Ballydoyle trainer within one win of Frankel's record, which was set in 2003.

Magical, who finished fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac, has a win over Happily to her name and was also beaten a short head by her in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last month. "Magical is in good order and we're happy with her, "O'Brien added.

Completing the Ballydoyle duo is September, who has finished behind Happily and Magical on her two starts since landing the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

O'Brien said: "September has had almost five weeks since her last run. She's in good form and we're happy with her. It will be her first time over a mile but that shouldn't be a problem."

Magical pros – Solid performer closely matched with Happily and would have preferred a more even pace in the Boussac last time.

Magical cons – Nothing obvious although her Chantilly run was only 12 days ago.

September pros – Looked very smart in first half of the season and although behind Happily and Magical on her last two starts should be going into the race fresher than her stablemates.

September cons – A bit to find with Happily and Magical on form.

Happily was ruled out of the Fillies' Mile this morning and Ryan Moore will now ride Magical – For the latest news on today's action, read The Briefing

Burke looks to Laurens

Karl Burke couldn't do it again, could he? He's already had a one-two in a juvenile Group 1 event this season and he has two runners this afternoon.

It was superior speed that allowed Unfortunately and Havana Grey to dominate the Prix Morny at Deauville in August but stamina could be the key in this mile test.

Which would be ideal for PJ McDonald's mount Laurens, a big, scopey filly who showed plenty of staying power to land the Group 2 May Hill Stakes over this trip at Doncaster last month.

"Whatever she does this year is a bonus," her trainer admitted. "We hope she can show herself to good effect but she's going to be a proper filly next year.

"She will be a mile-and-a-quarter and probably mile-and-a-half filly next year. Good to soft ground would have made it a bit more of a stamina test and that would have suited her. But she looks in good form and I hope she'll run a big race."

Ellthea, who won a Group 3 at Naas in impressive fashion, steps up in classCredit: Patrick McCann

Ellthea took the nursery on the day of Laurens' May Hill win but an impressive Group 3 victory at Naas encouraged another step up in class.

"The original plan was to go for a Group 2 in France but her owners have sportingly stumped up the £40,000 to supplement her," Burke said.

"She is improving and when a filly gets on an upward curve you never know how high they can go. It was a very good performance in Ireland and it wouldn't be out of the question for her to step up enough to get in the first three."

Laurens pros – Proved herself a smart filly by landing the May Hill Stakes and has more improvement in her, judged on her size.

Laurens cons – Would have been suited by softer ground, making this a stiffer test of stamina.

Appleby's faith in Lily

There may be a few big bets struck at Newmarket on Friday but not many to match the punt that Godolphin have taken with Magic Lily.

They slapped down a £40,000 late entry in an attempt to land the £320,000 first prize in the bet365 the Fillies' Mile, which makes for a very hefty wager at around 7-1.

That is a big show of faith in a filly who has had just one run, landing a maiden over this course and distance in good style three weeks ago.

"Magic Lily is a filly we were confident would run a nice race on her first start, but she ended up winning very impressively and seeing out the one mile trip really well," said trainer Charlie Appleby.

"She did a nice piece of work on Saturday and that made our minds up to supplement her. She is a filly for next year but won’t look out of place in this field and we are confident that she will run a nice race."

Magic Lily has already matched strides with a Group 1 winner on the gallops, athough Appleby played down the significance of those efforts.

"She has worked together with my recent Prix Marcel Boussac winner, Wild Illusion, and worked well," he said.

"But comparing the two is not really fair as Wild Illusion is not a renowned work horse, she only really brings out her ‘A’ game on race day.

"The Dubai Future Champions Festival is an important festival for the whole Godolphin team. I’ve been lucky to have winners there in the past and it’s good to have a few live contenders, including Magic Lily, this year."

Magic Lily pros – Created a highly favourable impression when scoring well on her debut for a trainer who has already won a similar event with her galloping companion.

Magic Lily cons – Lacks experience and takes a big step up in class.

What the rest say

Freddy Head, trainer of Efaadah
Efaadah is very well. The ground will be good, she is in good form and I think she has a good chance. You have to excuse her run in the Aumale when it was holding or even heavy and that definitely didn't help her cause.

Oliver Cole, son of Paul Cole, trainer of Musical Art
It looks a very hot contest for her on paper but she works like a good horse at home. We want to try her over a mile and we are putting the tongue-tie on as she has been putting her tongue over the bit and we hope there may be a bit more to come.

Charlie Johnston, son of Mark Johnston, trainer of Nyaleti
It's an unbelievably strong renewal. If you could run the Rockfel again we'd do things slightly differently and she'd probably win but that's how things panned out on the day. She's got every right to be involved in the end-of-season showpiece for this kind of filly and we hope she'll give a good account.

Jeremy Noseda, trainer of Quivery
The race has been the plan. She will be suited by the mile, the track and, hopefully, the quickish ground. I feel that she’ll run with credit in a very competitive race.

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