Albany Stakes
(Fillies' Group 3) Ascot 14:30 £125,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
Tweet Friday 19th June 2026

This has quickly established itself as one of the most informative juvenile contests of the Royal Ascot meeting, often identifying fillies capable of developing into top-class performers later in the season. The 2026 renewal already looks set to feature several exciting newcomers, headed by an impressive recent debut winner from the George Boughey stable.

Libertango announced herself as a filly of considerable promise with a stylish first success at Leicester, earning a swift rise towards the head of the Albany betting following a performance that combined professionalism, pace and determination.

Libertango (No Nay Never) is a 400,000gns buy from the breeze ups and looks a nice type, finishing strongly on debut for @gbougheyracing @LeicesterRaces pic.twitter.com/6juv4gfTZw

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 26, 2026

Libertango booked her ticket to the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot when making an impressive debut at Leicester.

Trained by George Boughey, the daughter of No Nay Never was snapped up for 400,000 guineas at the Craven Breeze-Up sales and was sent off at 4-1 in the hands of Billy Loughnane, up against some smart rivals in her British EBF Maiden Stakes introduction.

Having made stylish headway as the race developed she hit the front a furlong out and showed plenty of resolve when asked by the 2000 Guineas-winning rider to win her race, pulling a length and a quarter clear of runner-up Savage Mariner.

Boughey said: “She’s a very straightforward filly who we haven’t had long. It was almost too good to be true how relaxed she was and I hoped to see it on track because we’d seen it at home and she’s making up into an Albany filly, I would think – Billy was pleased.

“When she was bought she was bought to win a maiden and then go to Ascot and that is what we will do. Will she stay any further than six furlongs? We will see. The family suggests she should get a mile but as a physical she looks a five-furlong horse so if she can stay any further she’ll be a good filly.

“She’s got the make up and brain for Royal Ascot and there was no pressure coming here today with a horse like that as she makes my job easy. She’s a nice filly and we’re lucky to have her.

“Hopefully she can come out of this well and we can look forward to Ascot.”

That debut display suggested Libertango possesses many of the qualities required for the Albany Stakes. Ascot’s stiff six furlongs places a premium not only on natural speed, but also on temperament and the ability to settle in a large field environment, attributes Boughey was keen to highlight following her Leicester success.

Sun Goddess enhanced her Royal Ascot claims with a commanding display in the Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh on May 24.

Sun Goddess (Sioux Nation) shines brightly 🤩

A good start to the day for team @Ballydoyle Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore @curraghrace ✅ pic.twitter.com/Ui9MYvqQ4r

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 24, 2026

On a sunlit afternoon fittingly matched to her name, the daughter of Sioux Nation built on a promising debut second to stablemate Carry The Flag at Naas by producing a polished performance under Ryan Moore.

Sent off the 4-11 favourite, she travelled smoothly before quickening clear to score by five lengths, handing Aidan O’Brien a third victory in the race in the last four years.

Her performance immediately saw her installed as favourite for the Albany, with connections now firmly targeting the six-furlong juvenile contest.

O’Brien said: “She had a lovely run the first day. We got her out the first day in case she was an Ascot filly and ran so well that that is why she is back here.

“She could be an Albany filly if she knows enough, but Ryan said she is still very green between the two and the one (furlong markers) but then she started to go again after that.

“We have Neolithic, who is a fair horse as well by the same stallion and this is a big rangy filly who will definitely improve plenty as she goes.”

Although still showing signs of inexperience, Sun Goddess displayed enough natural speed and class to suggest she could develop into another major juvenile contender for Ballydoyle as Royal Ascot approaches.

Albany Stakes
£125,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
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Albany Stakes winners