Masterful Loughnane ride sees Libertango land Lowther
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Libertango came from last to first to strike close home under a masterful Billy Loughnane ride in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.
Winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the No Nay Never filly was slowly away from a high draw and was settled at the back of the field by her title-chasing jockey, with In The Black and Shimmering Sun disputing the early lead.
Joseph O’Brien’s Star Of State laid down her challenge a furlong and a half out, as Loughnane switched George Boughey’s youngster to the far side and as the gap opened along the rail the 3-1 shot responded to her rider’s urgings to get up on line, getting the better of 9-4 favourite Star Of State by half a length.
A daughter of No Nay Never, Libertango was returning to winning was after finishing second to Senorita Bonita at the July meeting and Boughey said: “Huge credit to firstly the filly and secondly to Billy.
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“We’ve held her in seriously high regard for a long time. The ground slightly dampened the enthusiasm, no pun intended, she had to go and prove she handled it. She got away with it.
“I wanted to come over four or five doors (stalls), maybe not 10 doors, but the one thing I said to Billy was try to find after a furlong the horses that are going to take you closest to the line.
“She travelled away nicely on it, when she went down, it was just slightly blunting her speed, but she’s a proper Group One filly.
“Credit to second (Star Of State) as well, the form stacked up, the two top horses were there and I’m delighted.”
He added: “I think she will go to the Cheveley Park, it’s been the plan for a long time.
“She was a breeze-up from Newmarket, clocked the third-fastest time there and there’s no reason to suggest she won’t handle the track there and very much on to the Breeders’ Cup.
“The sprint is a five and a half (furlongs) so I think that should suit her even better. It will be the sprint at Keeneland rather than the mile.
“Massive credit to Mr (Ibrahim) Araci (owner), who’s got some very good horses. Glacius with Hugo (Palmer) and this filly, and he wanted to buy the brother in Arqana last week, so he’s got the brother for next year.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien said of Star Of State, who was supplemented into the race at a cost of £20,000: “She ran a good race and I think she’s an exciting filly for the future.
“The winner is obviously a top-class filly and I think there’s lots to look forward to with our one – I wouldn’t swap her.
“We’ll see how she is after the race and discuss it Mr Jaber (Abdullah, owner) and his team and see where we go.”
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