America Queen will aim to put a nightmare Irish Guineas trip behind her with compensation in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
Richard Hughes was left fuming after his Nell Gwyn runner-up was denied a run in the Curragh Classic on Sunday, with racecourse veterinary officials unhappy with her action at the start.
This was despite Hughes providing X-ray evidence to show the Havana Grey filly was sound, obtained after similar concerns were raised by vets at Newmarket on her reappearance.
Hughes threatened to boycott Irish racing in the aftermath and while he remains angry about their treatment at the Curragh, he admitted compensation in the Group 3 contest would improve his mood significantly.
“America Queen is none the worse for her trip. She was 100 per cent afterwards and we are happy with her,” said Hughes.
“And while she has a couple of entries at Ascot, I think the Jersey is the obvious race for her. She has a brilliant turn of foot and she is on your side – she really tries. So if she runs in the Jersey she would have a massive chance, it would be nice to get a win under her belt and it has been a lucky race for me.”
Hughes admits America Queen is not the most fluent mover in her slower paces.
“Some days she is better than others but it does not stop her running fast,” said the trainer, who won the Jersey three times as a jockey.
“She was thrown in the deep end a couple of times. I thought she ran a blinder in the Lowther on the second run of her life. She ran a blinder in the Cheveley Park when she didn't get the run of the race and then got robbed in the Nell Gwyn – just caught on the line. So a Jersey win would be lovely and make up for it.”
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