O'Brien bids for Fillies' Mile hat-trick Aidan O'Brien is double-handed as he bids to win the Dubai Fillies' Mile for the third year running at Newmarket on Friday. Following the success of Together Forever in 2014 and Minding 12 months ago, the Ballydoyle handler saddles Rhododendron and Hydrangea in this year's renewal of the Group One contest. Ryan Moore takes the mount on Rhododendron, who beat Hydrangea in the Debutante Stakes but finished behind her when the pair filled the places in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. "They are in good form, both of them," said O'Brien. "There wasn't much between them when they met the time before and they wasn't too far between them in the Moyglare either. "The trip and ground shouldn't be a problem, either. We always thought they would get further than seven furlongs." Heading the home challenge is Sobetsu, who aims to provide Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick their second Group One triumph in a week. The first half of the plan was executed in exhilarating style by Wuheida in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly on Sunday and now it is Sobetsu's turn to strut her stuff at the top level. Yet another talented daughter of Dubawi, she turned many heads when romping to a 10-length, all-the-way win on her second start at Newmarket last month. "I am very pleased with Sobetsu," said Appleby. "She is proven on the track, which is a bonus, and I think that she has a very solid chance. "Her and Wuheida are the two stand-out fillies in my yard, two very imposing daughters of Dubawi with hopefully bright three-year-old careers ahead of them. "We sent Wuheida to France because Sobetsu was already a winner on the Rowley Mile and it allowed her an extra week of preparation time. "If Sobetsu could complete the Group One double it would be fantastic for the team and fantastic for Dubawi as well - he's already a renowned worldwide stallion but it would give a new status to his reputation." However, Sobetsu has to overturn the form of her debut run when she was third to Spatial, who is one of her rivals. "I appreciate that she has got to get past Spatial, and we very much respect her, but when they met before it was Sobetsu's debut whereas Spatial had already run, finishing second to Wuheida," he said. "Sobetsu really came forward for that first run and was very impressive last time." Godolphin have a second string to their bow in Easy Victory, who disappointed in the Sweet Solera Stakes after making a winning debut in encouraging style at Newmarket. "The ground was too firm for her in the Sweet Solera, and she came out of the race jarred up," her trainer Saeed bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com. "But she has been working well recently, and I think she will run a good race. Any rain would help her." Spatial had finished second to Wuheida on her debut before getting off the mark in pleasing fashion at Headquarters in August. Connections of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly are looking forward to testing her at the highest level. "We're very happy with her," said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud. "Obviously there's a lot of hype about the form and the way the form of her races have turned out. It's all been boosted in every which way. "We like her. She's a filly with a future. Godolphin have got a serious contender and whatever our filly does, she will improve for the race."
