Ylang Ylang wins another big one for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore and is now a 10-1 shot for the Oaks next year

YLANG YLANG might be named after an exotic plant, but there was nothing flowery about her win at Newmarket.

She had to get down and dirty under a brilliant Ryan Moore ride to win a three-way scrap for the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile.

It’s not always been pretty during her short career, but she is stubborn, hardy and tough to get rid of… maybe they should have named her after a weed instead?

She could easily have wilted when Shuwari and See The Fire drifted right across her going into the dip, causing her to lose precious momentum.

But she was gathered together by her world-class rider and stayed on relentlessly in the final 100 yards to win going away by half a length.

This was a typically impressive training performance from the ever-humble Aidan O’Brien, as Ylang Ylang became his record-equally sixth winner in this Group 1.

As per usual, he batted away any attention and deflected praise onto his humongous team behind the scenes at Ballydoyle.

But he deserves a big chunk of the credit because, after winning her first two starts, the wheels looked like they were coming off for Ylang Ylang, who is now 10-1 (from 33) for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks. 

She failed to beat a single horse in the Moyglare two starts ago and looked one-paced when third in the Rockfel at Newmarket last time out.

But the Coolmore ‘lads’ fancied her for this race and when they’re confident they very rarely miss.

O’Brien said: “After she ran in the Rockfel last time, Ryan got off and said straight away to come for this race.

“He said she was made for it and he was right, as he usually is, and the lads liked her for this race, too.

“Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he was very calm and collected and didn’t rush her when it got a bit bumpy and a bit rough.

“She is definitely a Classic filly. She would have no trouble starting in the Guineas but you’d think the Oaks trip will suit her.”

If O’Brien is to bank another big two-year-old race in Britain this month, he will have to do it without his star jockey.

Moore picked up a five-day careless riding ban earlier on the card after finishing second in the Oh So Sharp Stakes aboard Skellet.

It means he will miss the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in a fortnight, for which Ballydoyle’s Diego Velazquez is the 5-2 favourite.

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