Billy Loughnane denied Grade 1 glory abroad as Soprano finishes second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Billy Loughnane fell one place short of claiming a breakthrough Grade 1 victory in the US on the first attempt when Soprano finished second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. 

The 18-year-old jockey was making his debut in the States at Keeneland in a race won 12 months ago by the Oisin Murphy-ridden Mawj. Loughnane could only finish second behind the prominently ridden She Feels Pretty, who was scoring at the top level for the second time. 

Soprano has been regularly partnered by Loughnane this season as part of the young jockey's rapid rise through the ranks, which included success on the three-year-old in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

The George Boughey-trained filly was last seen finishing just over a length behind Porta Fortuna in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September but was six lengths behind the runaway winner here, despite a fast finish which saw her pip the Frankie Dettori-ridden Caitlinhergrtness for second by a neck. 

She Feels Pretty benefitted from first-time blinkers to post a career-best performance, with jockey John Velazquez keeping her in cover behind the eventual runner-up before authoritatively putting the race to bed down the home straight.

"When you have a filly of this level she puts it out there every time," winning trainer Cherie DeVaux told Bloodhorse. "We've been working her [in the mornings] with the blinkers to keep her focused on her own task, and I think Johnny hit it on the head that she needs cover, needs to come out and make that run."  

The Kentucky contest had another European runner in the Aga Khan's Candala, who was third behind Friendly Soul at Deauville in August. The Francis Graffard-trained filly sat in last and failed to make an impression, finishing eighth of ten under Florent Geroux. 

Billy Loughnane tells Peter Thomas about ambition, teamwork and the path from Wolverhampton to the top in The Big Read, available now for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers.

'The next target has to be number one spot. It's a massive dream and it's going to be hard, but you have to keep aiming high'

Members' Club Ultimate subscribers have access to all our interviews, special reports, features and tipping. Sign up now and use the code MEMBERS24 to get 50% off your first three months.

Read more international news: 

'It should suit him down to the ground' - Gordon Elliott and John McConnell bid to win the Velka Pardubicka 

'The better the race, the further she wins' - Sky Majesty the highlight of William Haggas juvenile double 

'They've just hijacked the Pattern' - fears and fury in Australia after remarkable number of race upgrades 

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