'She'll have no problem getting an Oaks trip' - Ylang Ylang lands Group 1 Fillies' Mile for Aidan O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien matched the great Sir Henry Cecil by racking up a sixth win in the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile with Ylang Ylang, who is now second favourite in most ante-post lists for next year's Betfred Oaks.

The daughter of Frankel had been overlooked by many after recent defeats over seven furlongs at the Rowley Mile and the Curragh, but not by those at Ballydoyle who believed she would come good when stepped up to a mile.

Off a decent pace provided by stablemate Brilliant, the 1.5 million guineas purchase overcame some early scrimmaging to come through to tackle Shuwari and See The Fire, who looked to have it between them entering the final two furlongs.

After that pair drifted across to the stands' rail, Ryan Moore eyed his chance coming out of the Dip and finished with a flourish to score by half a length from Shuwari, who had finished in front of her in the Rockfel.

Ylang Ylang was cut to 10-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power for next year's Qipco 1,000 Guineas, a market already headed by her stablemate Opera Singer. She was also cut to the same price for the Oaks with the same firm and the last filly to win all three was the O'Brien-trained superstar Minding in 2015.

O'Brien said: "Ryan was beautiful on Ylang Ylang here in the Rockfel after which he said to come back here for this race. It obviously went a bit pear-shaped in the Moyglare before that, but we've always had a lot of faith in her and the race could not have worked out any better.

"She's classy and she's brave, so she's exciting. I'd say she's a Classic filly for next year and we could start her off in the 1,000 Guineas. She should have no problem getting an Oaks trip."

Winning part-owner Michael Tabor was going one better than O'Brien as he was also involved in a seventh win in the contest.

He said: "We're very happy with that and she looked like she outstayed them. I don't know how far she'll stay, but she would be a Guineas filly. Beyond that Ryan seems to think something like the Prix de Diane would suit her.

"The race here last time was a bit messy and you can forget that. Ryan looked after her when she was flat-footed that day. That's paid off on what we have seen today and she's an exciting filly for next year."

Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore and Michael Tabor after Ylang Ylang's win in the Fillies' MileCredit: Edward Whitaker

Moore said: "I think her experience helped her out early on and we went a good tempo. I kept to the outside and the two fillies in front drifted over, so I got a good run through and when we hit the rising ground the result was never in doubt.

"We've always thought a lot of her. Things didn't go her way in the Moyglare and the Rockfel, but she's shown her true colours today."

Ollie Sangster, trainer of 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 1,000 Guineas. I wouldn't be afraid of pitching straight up into a 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's a hard-working filly."

Andrew Balding, trainer of third-placed See The Fire, said: "She travelled strongly, but she got there sooner than Oisin [Murphy] wanted. She just tired late on, but she's an exciting filly and we're looking forward to next year. I think we will look towards the 1,000 Guineas with her."

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