GEORGE Boughey has hailed star juvenile filly Libertango as “without doubt the best two-year-old six-furlong horse we’ve had so far” ahead of her biggest test yet in an all-star edition of the Group 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes (2.27) today at Newmarket.

It promises to be the standout juvenile contest of the season when dual top-level winner Sun Goddess locks horns with ready Group 1 Prix Morny heroine Senorita Bonita and Boughey’s recent Group 2 Lowther Stakes winner. She remains the only horse to have beaten Sun Goddess from their encounter in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Further depth is added to the £275,000 contest by Joseph O’Brien’s Cork listed winner Alwaysanangel, Andrew Balding’s dual Group 3 winner Moonrise and Ingabelle Stakes third Snowing from Ballydoyle.

“Libertango is in great shape,” said Boughey. “She’s basically had a faultless prep from the Lowther to Newmarket, so it’s always a nice position to be in when everything goes to plan. With a relatively dry forecast through to the end of the week, she looks like she’s going to get her preferred ground.

“A relatively small field [of six runners] would be a slight question mark. She’s always, for me, been better in a big field, as shown in the Albany and the Lowther, but she was obviously a very good breezer on the track back in the spring. Her work last week was really encouraging, and she goes there as well as we could possibly have her.

“She’s without doubt the best two-year-old six-furlong horse we’ve had so far. It’s a race where everyone’s been hoping to see the top three in the market turn up in as good a shape as they can. We’re delighted to be a part of it, and hopefully she can be in the mix.”

It could be a big result for the sponsors if Senorita Bonita fights out the finish with Libertango, as the pair are graduates of this year’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale.

Joint-trainer Ed Crisford said: “We’ve been really pleased with Senorita Bonita since her win in the Prix Morny and she’s trained really well into the Cheveley Park, we’ve all been very happy with her. It looks like it’s going to be a cracking race and it’s just nice to have a filly that’s good enough to take part in a race of this quality.”

Irish involvement

On Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale purchase Alwaysanagel, Joseph O’Brien added: “She’s had a good preparation for the race and has had a good season up until now. We’re very much looking forward to competing in what is as strong a renewal of the race as I can recall in recent years. I think we go there with every chance.”

There is also a quality edition of the Group 1 Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes (3.00), which sees Michael O’Callaghan bid for success at the highest level with Push The Boat Out, a winner of the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes last time. He now sports new colours, having been acquired by Ace Stud, and Shane Foley rides him for the first time.

“We’re looking forward to running Push The Boat Out,” said O’Callaghan. “He’s unbeaten, and he beat the Coventry winner [Great Barrier Reef] on his second start. He’s a very good horse.”

Great Barrier Reef was a notable omission from the contest at declaration stage, though Godolphin’s well-regarded Inner City Blues (won the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket when last seen) is in the mix and the Norfolk Stakes scorer Orthodox bids to bounce back from his defeat in the Prix Morny. Marco Polo, who bolted up in a Cork maiden on his third start earlier this month, is joined by stablemate Confucius (wears first-time blinkers), while Robson de Aguiar runs decisive Dundalk winner Force Noir.