By Tom Frary
Adding more lustre to a memorable week for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane, Libertango (No Nay Never) swooped to take Friday's G3 Albany Stakes from under the nose of Ballydoyle's hot favourite Sun Goddess (Sioux Nation).
Still with plenty to do as that 10-11 market-leader moved towards the front approaching the final furlong, Vefa Ibrahim Araci's 400,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up purchase who had scored on debut at Leicester flew late to overwhelm the TDN Rising Star and score by a length. Wathnan's Light Of Dawn (Showcasing) was the same margin back in third.
“She had shown a lot since she came to us–we were underbidder on her as a yearling and so keen to get her at the Breeze-Ups,” Boughey said of the 6-1 shot who like Great Barrier Reef on Tuesday came from a seemingly disadvantageous stall in three. “Billy gave her a beautiful ride and although she was one of the fastest at the Breeze-Up, she is bred to get further. I wanted to keep her at six for now and she was able to pull it off.”
With this win No Nay Never is confirmed one of the Kings of Royal Ascot, with three winners from the three races he has had representation in this week. It also represented a triumph for Hubert Guy, who bought Libertango as a yearling at Arqana Deauville August for Blue Farm Bloodstock before selling a part share to Brendan Holland of Grove Stud and re-selling her in the Craven Sale.
“It's great to have winner for Mr Araci, he's a great supporter of British racing,” her trainer added. “No Nay Never is the stallion who is hitting it out of the park and he was pretty bold–he wanted to get the horse and he had to pay for it. She has just got the most amazing brain and 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.”
“She could go to Newmarket 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 added, “She did everything right that day at Leicester, especially in very hot conditions and 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.”
“I do think she'll stay seven furlongs,” he added. “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, “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.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Sun Goddess, “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.”
Billy Loughnane and George Boughey do it again! Libertango wins the Albany Stakes! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/VXXYOqPhG9
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Libertango is the first of two current foals out of the dam, a full-sister to the owner's Solario Stakes winner Aktabantay and half to the Prix Imprudence-winning Spanish champion two-year-old filly Reina Madre (Kingman). The second dam Splashdown (Falbrav), who captured the Ballymacoll Stud Stakes, is kin to the Height of Fashion winner Cosmodrome (Bahri) and Theatrical's Graded-Stakes-placed sire Tadreeb. Her yearling is a full-brother to the winner.
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