By Tom Frary
Friday's G1 Fillies' Mile became a test of stamina and character and there was no shirking of the issue from TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal) as she provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-equalling sixth renewal of the Newmarket feature.
Beaten twice since winning Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. in July, the 1.5million gns Book 1 relative of Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {Ire}) was better than the bare form of her third in this track's seven-furlong G2 Rockfel S. last month and had race tactics to suit if not the soft ground with stablemate Brilliant (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) the target up ahead.
Checked momentarily as the Rockfel runner-up Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) was carried left into her path by the G2 May Hill S. runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) approaching two out, the 9-2 shot was pulled around that duo by Ryan Moore and began pursuit into the dip. Taking until the last 50 yards to get by, she was firmly on top at the line to reverse form with Shuwari and prevail by half a length from that 3-1 favourite, with See The Fire 3/4 of a length away in third.
“It all went a little bit pear-shaped in mid-season and it's hard to come back like that, but she's classy and very brave,” O'Brien said. “She's very exciting for next year and I'd imagine the lads will want her to start in the Guineas, but she'll have no problem going further and could get the Oaks trip.”
“Obviously the Moyglare went wrong–she ran a bit keen because she'd made the running the first twice, but when her chance was gone Ryan looked after her,” he added. “She came here for a lovely, educational run the last day and because her season got interrupted she wouldn't have been 100% at her best today. We were kind of coming here more for education for next year than today being the be-all and end-all, but I thought Ryan was really incredible on her.”
Ollie Sangster said of Shuwari, “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.”
Andrew Balding was also satisfied with the effort of See The Fire and 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.”
Pedigree Notes
Ylang Ylang is the first foal out of Listed Pretty Polly S., Listed Height of Fashion S. and Listed Chalice S.-placed Shambolic who is a half-sister to the aforementioned dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup hero and multiple Hong Kong champion Viva Pataca who raced as Comic Strip while in the UK. She is also kin to the GI Flower Bowl Invitational and GI Diana S. heroine Laughing (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and to the dam of the listed scorer and G3 Lillie Langtry S.-placed Twitch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}).
The family, which received an update last year when Mottisfont (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) was third in the G3 Sweet Solera S., includes the multiple graded-stakes scorer and sire Brave Act (GB) while the fourth dam is the champion 2-year-old filly Circus Ring (Ire) (High Top {Ire}). Shambolic's yearling colt by Kingman (GB) sold for 425,000gns at the town's recent Book 1 to Qatar Racing and the China Horse Club, while she also has a filly foal by Siyouni (Fr).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 FILLIES' MILE-G1, £500,000, Newmarket, 10-13, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.80, sf.
1–YLANG YLANG (GB), 128, f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Shambolic (Ire) (MSP-Eng), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Comic (Ire), by Be My Chief
3rd Dam: Circus Act (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. (1,500,000gns Ylg '22
TATOCT). O-Magnier,Tabor, Smith, Brant, Westerberg;
B-Newsells Park Stud & Merry Fox Stud (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien;
J-Ryan Moore. £283,550. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-3-0-1,
$404,796. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shuwari (Ire), 128, f, 2, New Bay (GB)–Lady Pimpernel (GB),
by Sir Percy (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (80,000gns Ylg
'22 TATOCT). O-Mrs B V Sangster & Ballylinch Partnership;
B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Ollie Sangster. £107,500.
3–See The Fire (GB), 128, f, 2, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Arabian
Queen (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mr
J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £53,800.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 3.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Classical Song (Ire), Brilliant (Ire), Caught U Looking (Ire), Seaward (Ire), Ambiente Amigo (GB). VIDEO.
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
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