George Boughey was full of pride after Libertango found only the brilliant Sun Goddess too good in the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
The Albany and Lowther Stakes winner produced a career-best in the Rowley Mile Group One, going down by just a length to Aidan O’Brien’s filly, with America now calling.
“She’s run a huge race and bumped into an outstanding two-year-old filly who has taken all before her really,” said Boughey.
“She ran as well as we hoped she would run and I think if we were able to race alongside Sun Goddess it would have been an interesting battle as we were on one wing and they were on the other, but it was a huge performance and I have to be delighted.
“Billy (Loughnane) thought she was brilliant and strong through the line and we just got beat by the better filly on the day.
“It’s a credit to all the teams to get all these top fillies together and it was a super horse race.”
Boughey added: “There was a moment I thought she might be the winner and she travelled supremely well into it. We thought she needed to be back in the field a bit, but interestingly Billy wasn’t fussed where she landed and we didn’t need to be taking back with her.
“It’s on to the Breeders’ Cup now and that is the plan. The (juvenile turf) sprint has been the plan for a long time and stamina is Sun Goddess’ forte, but speed is our forte.
“Billy was pretty sure she might stay further so we will keep all options open, but America is very much next on the agenda.”
Loughnane said: “It was a fantastic run. She’s a high-class filly and she’s proved that today. She’s breezed through it, she handled the dip and she’s a lot better on fast ground.
“There were a few doubters beforehand and maybe if I was drawn next to Sun Goddess I could have followed her it might have been a different story, but take nothing away from the winner.”
Of Simon and Ed Crisford’s Prix Morny winner Senorita Bonita, who was ultimately a disappointing fifth, rider Oisin Murphy said: “They are not machines. Not only did she not pick up when I asked her for an effort, she also stopped late on. There’s nothing obvious, but there’s clearly something amiss.”