Libertango ready for final dance of the season With no Sun Goddess to worry about this time, Libertango can cap a phenomenal year for handler George Boughey when she gets to showcase her speed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Friday. It has been the season of a lifetime for the Newmarket trainer, who expertly prepared Bow Echo for Classic, Royal Ascot and Sussex Stakes glory earlier this season and has also already landed big-race success Stateside with Turf contender Survie. Libertango has played her own part in her handler’s dream campaign, also winning at Royal Ascot before adding the Lowther Stakes and running a big race in a Cheveley Park for the ages at Newmarket. The daughter of No Nay Never gets to sparkle on the opening day of the end-of-season world championships and while Sun Goddess will stretch out to a mile later in the day, Libertango sticks to what she knows best, having prepared for her American assignment with a spin around Kempton. Keeneland Ambitions And Tactical Switch Boughey – who will have Flavien Prat in the saddle with Billy Loughnane unable to do the weight – said: “She’s been one of the standout fillies this season. We’re delighted we don’t have to take Sun Goddess on again and she’s in good shape. I think we’ve got her in great form and she worked super on her away day. “She has always run in a straight line, so we kind of wanted to get her away and let her switch leads turning in over a sharp five furlongs. “She seemed to do it very well. I think she’s had the perfect preparation and has had enough time to have an easy week after the Cheveley Park before we’ve built her up again and she looks fantastic.” On Loughnane being unable to maintain the partnership, Boughey said: “We’ve always had it in our minds to come here, but Billy was never going to do the weight. It wouldn’t have been fair to Billy or the owners he’s riding for out here. “I think she’s got the pace for five furlongs, let alone five and a half which is an intermediate distance. She went to the gate this morning and jumped pretty clean. We would probably like to ride her a little bit closer to the pace as she usually jumps fine. “The instructions to drop her in at home I don’t think we will be doing here. If she runs to form she should be very competitive.” European Contingent Target Sprint Crown Miguel Clement’s Brickyard Belle and Cathal Lynch’s Harper’s Corner finished first and second respectively at Belmont in the Matron Stakes and could be the best the home team have to offer, but Libertango’s main opposition promises to come from her fellow raiders, including Andrew Balding’s Moonrise. Eventually finishing two places behind Boughey’s market leader in fourth when making a bold bid from the front in the Cheveley Park, the three-time winner has shown she has all the attributes to thrive in this assignment, with jockey Oisin Murphy full of optimism. Murphy said: “She has a great chance and I’m delighted with the draw in one. She showed a lot of speed at Kempton and in the Cheveley Park and I think the five and a half furlongs round a bend at Keeneland is going to suit her well. “Obviously we respect the opposition, in particularly Libertango, but I’m really looking forward to riding this one.” Also fearing Libertango is Richard and Peter Fahey who alongside Adrian Keatley’s Middle Park third Hell Of A Spin will represent Yorkshire-based trainers in the Bluegrass state. Sprint Stars Ready To Clash At Keeneland The former heads overseas in search of a four-timer having impressed when claiming Listed and Group Three events the last twice. Richard Fahey said: “He’s progressing and going the right way, we’ve been really pleased with him and I think five and a half furlongs there will really suit him. “He has been finishing his races fine, so I can’t see the extra distance being an issue and he does have a turn to get round as well which will help him. “It’s as tough a juvenile as I’ve seen and some top European horses in there with Libertango the one to beat, but we’re happy to be taking part.” Flying Childers Winner Heads International Raiders Also on the European teamsheet is Hamad Al Jehani’s Flying Childers scorer Final Objective who has thrived since being gelded earlier in the summer and got the better of Kevin Philippart De Foy’s reopposing Crownbreaker when scoring at Doncaster. Richard Brown of owners Wathnan Racing said: “He certainly had his quirks, but gelding him seems to have improved him. He was tough in the Flying Childers despite leaning across the track and races like that will serve him well. “He’s got a tricky draw in nine, but he’s got six runs under his belt which will help. He’s experienced and although going round a bend will be a new experience for him, I think he has a live each-way chance.” Paddy Twomey’s Velozee and Robson De Aguiar’s Middle Park second Force Noir will represent Ireland, while a French flavour is added by Francis-Henri Graffard’s Primetime Emmy. Graffard said: “Primetime Emmy breaks really fast and looking at her in the mornings she is up for the challenge. She has a bad draw (in 12), but seems in good form. I’m looking forward to seeing her racing.”
