Ylang Ylang emerges as the frontrunner in Fillies’ Mile once again
Ylang Ylang Triumphs in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket
In a stunning display of perseverance, Ylang Ylang emerged victorious in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, this bay filly overcame a troubled start to claim victory in the one-mile Group One race.
Ridden patiently by Ryan Moore and starting as a 9-2 underdog, Ylang Ylang stayed towards the back of the pack before making her move. The soft ground added an extra challenge to this stamina test, but she managed to edge past the favorite Shuwari (3-1) towards the end.
Prior to this win, Ylang Yang had already made quite an impression with victories in a Curragh maiden and the Group Three Silver Flash Stakes. She was considered an early favorite for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
Her journey leading up to this triumph had its ups and downs. After her initial wins, she took some time off until September when she finished last in Moyglare Stud Stakes at Curragh. In October’s Rockfel at Newmarket, she placed third behind Carla’s Way and Shuwari.
The Fillies’ Mile marked her first attempt at a mile distance, which proved successful as she turned around previous form with Shuwari. While it briefly seemed like See The Fire would secure victory after taking an early lead, it was ultimately Ylag Yang who surged ahead down the middle of track to cross half a length in front.
Despite her success, Aidan O’Brien admitted that Ylang Yang wasn’t at her best and considered this race as a valuable learning experience for next year. He praised Ryan Moore’s exceptional performance on the filly and described her as classy, brave, and an exciting prospect for future races.
Paddy Power reacted to her victory by cutting Ylang Ylang’s odds from 33-1 to 10-1 for both the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks. Meanwhile, O’Brien’s other talented filly Opera Singer remains a strong contender with odds of 5-1 for the former and market-leading odds of 8-1 for the latter race.
Dance Sequence Secures Victory in Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes
In another thrilling contest, Dance Sequence claimed victory in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes under jockey William Buick and trainer Charlie Appleby. This filly had only one previous run before entering this seven-furlong Group Three race, making her win even more impressive.
Starting at odds of 4-1 despite not having raced since July, Dance Sequence traveled comfortably among midfield runners throughout the race. As they approached the half-furlong pole, she surged forward alongside Skellet (7-4 favorite) to pull clear from the rest of the field. In a neck-and-neck battle down to wire, it was Dance Sequence who emerged victorious by a narrow margin over Skellet.
The third-placed Star Music finished three lengths behind them. With this win under her belt, Dance Sequence now stands as a promising candidate with odds of 14-1 for next year’s highly anticipated 1000 Guineas.