SUN Goddess came up just short when a Royal Ascot banker for many in last week’s Albany Stakes, but she proved just how talented and tough she is when winning the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes off only an eight-day turnaround.

Aidan O’Brien has some history winning this race with fillies of a similar profile; two of his last three winners of this race had been to the Royal Meeting on their last start, including Albany runner-up Matrika in 2023.

The margin of victory was only a length and a half for the 2/7 favourite, as Joseph O’Brien’s Green Empress stayed on eye-catchingly for second on her first start for new owners The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation Ltd, but this was still a performance of quality for the winner all things considered.

O’Brien said: “We were running her back quick, so we didn’t really know how she’d fare. She’s a lovely filly, though, and we’ll give her a bit of time now. She seemed to be well after the race and this option was here for her - it all suited.

“She is very classy. A great traveller, still a baby - she’s very big. A big, quality filly. She could be one for the Moyglare; I think she’s going to stay and will be comfortable enough going up to seven furlongs, I’d say.”

Ryan Moore partnered the Sioux Nation filly to success for the ownership partnership of Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg. She was very well-purchased for £120,000 by Avenue Bloodstock for M.V. Magnier out of Owenstown Stud (at last year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale).

Reflecting on her Royal Ascot second to Libertango, O’Brien added: “She just got hung up in the pace a little bit in the Albany; Ryan said he had to fight early and the winner was locked up out the back and just came when the race was over. That’s the way it goes.”