Boughey confident Libertango will relish York chance

George Boughey believes the York track can play into the hands of Libertango when she takes her chance in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

The No Nay Never filly was delivered late to run on and beat Sun Goddess in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and that form was franked when Aidan O’Brien’s charge won the Group One Phoenix Stakes earlier this month.

She was beaten three-quarters of a length by Simon and Ed Crisford’s Queen Mary runner-up Senorita Bonita in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on a course that probably did not suit her, but a return to flatter terrain is expected to suit.

Boughey said: “She’s training super. It’s great to be able to have a team to bring to York of the quality that we do. It’s taken a few years to get there, but she certainly headlines it.

“Our first two-year-old winner at Royal Ascot, and I think things didn’t quite go her way at Newmarket. Possibly the track had something to play with that. She’s a very fast filly who we’re still learning about, to be honest.

“It was a stiff six at Ascot, and Billy (Loughnane) played her very late, and that seemed to work. I just think on a level track again we could see her to best effect.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Star of State will be stepping up to Pattern level for the first time in the Group Two contest, but was mightily impressive in winning a Leopardstown maiden last month.

The State Of Rest filly made all and pulled clear in the final furlong to win at a canter, by nine lengths, a performance that convinced owner Jaber Abdullah to supplement for this at a cost of £20,000.

O’Brien said: “I suppose she couldn’t have done any more than she did and she is obviously stepping up in class as you have to do as you win your maiden.

“This race will obviously guide us as to what the next step will be. We think she is a filly who will be able to hold her own in Group company.”

Livenka beat Star Of State at Fairyhouse when she showed greeness on her debut and followed that up with an dominant victory in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas.

Jockey Colin Keane was impressed by the Ger Lyons-trained, Juddmonte-owned Bated Breath filly and is looking forward to the mount on the Knavesmire.

Keane said: “She’s a filly Ger has always loved. You don’t know what she beat in the Ballyhane, I suppose, but she couldn’t have been any more impressive.

“Obviously Joseph’s filly was a very good winner at Leopardstown, so she’d come on since ours beat her on her debut, and then there’s George’s filly (Libertango) who was very good at Ascot, so it looks a strong enough field.”

Other contenders towards the top of the market come in the shape of Karl Burke’s Wild Blossom, who is fresh from winning a valuable conditions race at Goodwood and steps up to six furlongs for the first time, and Andrew Balding’s Moonrise, who was winning the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes when last seen.