Libertango (6-1) swooped late to deny hot favourite Sun Goddess in the Albany Stakes on day four of Royal Ascot 2026. The George Boughey-trained No Nay Never filly, who had won a maiden at Leicester three weeks ago, came late and fast to land the Group Three six-furlong contest under Billy Loughnane.
Jolivette led until the final two furlongs, when Royal Ascot centurion Aidan O'Brien's Sun Goddess (10-11 favourite) came through to take over under Ryan Moore. But they could not stop the charge of Libertango, who triumphed by a length from the favourite. Karl Burke's Light Of Dawn (11-1), under James Doyle in the Wathnan Racing colours, was the same distance back in third. Dark Issue (22-1) was half-a-length further adrift in fourth.
Boughey and Loughnane had won the Group One St James's Palace Stakes with 2,000 Guineas hero Bow Echo on the first day of the meeting. They may now be dreaming of Classic glory next year with their latest Royal Ascot winner. William Hill cut Libertango to 12-1 joint favourite from 50-1 for the 2027 Betfred 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket alongside fellow Royal Ascot winner Victorious, who won the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes for O'Brien and Moore on Wednesday.
Boughey was landing a sixth Royal Ascot winner and a third of the week. He said: "She got Billy out of trouble a little bit there, it was messy in behind; I thought he gave her a beautiful ride really, just did get in a bit of trouble. The plan was to ride her with loads of patience and well executed. She was one of the fastest breezers at the Craven Breeze-Ups and credit to Tattersalls for giving an amazing draft of horses this year but she's bred to get further. I wanted to start at six because the first time she worked, this looked like the race for her and luckily she was able to pull it off."
He added: "We actually underbid her as a yearling at Arqana, we were pretty keen to get her. Luckily Mr Araci who – great to have a winner for him at Royal Ascot – has been a big supporter of British racing, he's 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."
Boughey continued: "She's been very good from the outset. She was prepared by Brendan Holland of Blarney who was very sweet on this horse before the sale, and we actually wanted her as a yearling but didn't manage to buy her, so it was nice to see her back in the breeze-up sale. She's just got the most amazing brain. Trying to buy Royal Ascot two-year-olds, No Nay Never is the stallion who's 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, but her work has been better than any two-year-old we've sent to Ascot. We've been second and third in the race the last couple of years, so we're delighted to get it done."
"I'm glad she got there; it wasn't always pretty watching, but I think that happens when you kind of get the vibe that they were going to concertina against the stands side rail, and we were drawn low, and it probably wasn't that favourable. But, strong head wind 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, 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, who was grabbing a fifth Royal Ascot winner, added: "This is no surprise. I loved her before her first ever run, her work had been very good and I was pleased she did everything right that day on a very hot day at Leicester. She handled the prelims brilliantly. I had an uncompromising draw but switched her off and she showed an explosive turn of foot."
"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. Then when the gates came out and how the races have been playing all week here, I was worried that… 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, and she did it cosy."
"I was going to challenge on the inside to the left-hand side of Ryan, but I wanted him to take me a little bit further, I thought she would have a good look around when she hit the front, like she did at Leicester, so my plan was not to get there too soon and having to switch out to come right meant I had a target for an extra couple of strides."
"When she came from the breeze-up, she would fill your eye straight away. She's built like a colt, she's very strong for a filly. She's not got many feminine attributes! So it's good to see her in such great shape. George is having a fantastic week as well, we're getting a different level of horse now, which is great and very exciting because we have a great bunch of two-year-olds."
"She's bred to be very fast. Six is fine for the minute and the way she races, she races so economically, she relaxes super, so I don't think going an extra furlong at the minute would be an issue."
Libertango's owner Mr Araci said: "Unbelievable. I can't explain it. My heart is all over the place – it's a wonderful feeling. I hope it can continue and we can get another winner at Royal Ascot. It's very important for everyone. I have been here in the past with Sir Henry Cecil, and it is wonderful to have a winner."
On the runner-up Sun Goddess, trainer O'Brien said: "She ran very well, very happy. She was a little bit green through the middle of the race, it was a little bit rough, but she will be fine and we are looking forward to next time."
