Libertango (6/1) came to the rescue of Royal Ascot bookmakers as she flew past 10/11 favourite Sun Goddess to post a dominant success in the G3 Albany Stakes.
Held up from her low draw in stall three, Libertango met with a few traffic problems in the six-furlong contest before finding a telling change of gear to run down Sun Goddess and score by a length. Light Of Dawn (11/1) was the same distance further back in third.
It is turning into a memorable meeting for trainer George Boughey and jockey Billy Loughnane, who now have three wins apiece and combined to win Tuesday’s feature St James’s Palace Stakes with Bow Echo.
Purchased for 400,000gns by Ibrahim Araci at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, Libertango had made a successful introduction against the boys in a maiden at Leicester last month.
Boughey said: “Libertango has been very good from the outset. She was prepared by Brendan Holland, who was very sweet on her before the sale. We actually wanted her as a yearling but did not manage to buy her, so it was nice to see her back in the breeze-up sale.
“She has just got the most amazing brain. Trying to buy Royal Ascot two-year-olds, No Nay Never is the stallion who is hitting it out of the park, so to be able to get her was brilliant. He was pretty bold, Mr Araci – he wanted to get the horse and he had to pay for it. Her work has been better than any two-year-old we have sent to Ascot. We have been second and third in the race the last couple of years, so we are delighted to get it done.
“I am glad she got there; it was not always pretty watching, but I think that happens when you get the vibe that they were going to concertina against the stands’ side rail. We were drawn low and it probably was not that favourable. But, with a strong headwind here today, they went an honest gallop and she was able to get the better of them.
“It was all about today. She could go to Newmarket, stepping up in grade, for the Duchess of Cambridge. She is a filly with loads of pace and, although she probably will get further, I do not think she needs to yet. She has got a wicked turn of foot. I think she got stopped three or four times, but Billy knew he had a load of horse under him. She has shown that turn of foot at home, and it did not surprise me.”
Loughnane said: “This is no surprise. I loved Libertango before her first run. Her work had been very good and she did everything right that day at Leicester, especially in very hot conditions. She did a monster piece of work six days ago, so I was confident of a very big run.
“I had an uncompromising draw today. I knew she was good, but she was going to have to be very good to win from there. And there’s a headwind, so I took my time early, got her to switch off and had targets to run down. She showed an explosive turn of foot and did it cosy.
“This is great – George has got his team in such great shape. He is a fantastic trainer and I’m the lucky one who gets to partner some very talented horses. I am so hungry to ride winners and riding in races like these is what you want.
“I was gutted not to be on Moonfall yesterday. I chose the wrong one and made a mistake. Obviously, it’s going to happen again, but I was pleased for all the connections and Zac Lloyd. Zac is a big mate of mine and it’s fantastic for him to showcase his talent on the big stage as well.
“I do think Libertango will stay seven furlongs. When she came from the breeze-up, she would fill your eye straight away. She is built like a colt and is very strong for a filly. She has not got many feminine attributes! It will be interesting as she will have loftier targets now.”
Araci said: “Unbelievable. I cannot explain it. My heart is all over the place – it is a wonderful feeling. I hope it can continue and we can get another winner at Royal Ascot. It is very important for everyone. I have been here in the past with Sir Henry Cecil, and it is wonderful to have a winner.”
Sun Goddess’ trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “She ran very well. I am very happy with her. She was a little bit green through the middle of the race and it was a little bit rough, but she will be fine and we are looking forward to next time.”
James Doyle said of Light Of Dawn: “She ran super and I am delighted with her. She just got a little bit lonely through that last furlong.”