Libertango powers to impressive Albany Stakes success

Libertango rocketed from last to first to upset red-hot favourite Sun Goddess and win the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Jolivette was up with the pace and was the first to get a run at the two-furlong pole, with Aidan O’Brien’s Sun Goddess (10-11 favourite) handily placed in the middle of the pack when the gaps started appearing.

Ryan Moore sent Sun Goddess to the head of the field approaching the final furlong, but there was little he could do about Libertango (6-1) on his outside who swept forward in the hands of Billy Loughnane to score by a going-away length, giving trainer George Boughey a third winner of the week.

Boughey said: “I thought he gave her a beautiful ride really, he just did get in a bit of trouble.

“The plan was to ride her with loads of patience and it was well executed. She was one of the fastest breezers at the Craven Breeze-Ups, but she’s bred to get further.

“I wanted to start at six (furlongs) because the first time she worked this looked like the race for her and luckily she was able to pull it off. We actually underbid her as a yearling at Arqana, we were pretty keen to get her.

“Luckily Mr (Ibrahim) Araci (owner) who – and it is great to have a winner for him at Royal Ascot – has been a big supporter of British racing, he played second and third fiddle to Frankel a bit with Native Khan and it’s great for him to have his day in the sun.”

William Hill were suitably impressed by Libertango, installing her as 12-1 joint-favourite alongside the O’Brien-trained Victorious for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

On future plans, Boughey said: “It was all about today. She could go to Newmarket, stepping up in grade, the Duchess of Cambridge. She’s a filly with loads of pace, she probably will get further, but I don’t think she needs to yet. She’s got a wicked turn of foot.

“She’s not overly-big, but she’s certainly big enough. I think she got stopped three or four times, but Billy knew he had a load of horse under him. She’s shown that turn of foot at home, and it didn’t surprise me.”

Loughnane added: “She’s a very talented filly and I’ve always thought the world of her.

“I was pleased with her first run, she was still a little bit rawer than I expected, but she still won comfortably. She did a monster piece of work six days ago, so I was confident of a very big run.”