Jersey Stakes
Group 3, Ascot 16:20 £175,000 guaranteed, 3yo, 7f, Class 1
Tweet Saturday 20th June 2026

America Queen will seek to put a frustrating and controversial trip to Ireland behind her when she targets the Jersey Stakes.

Richard Hughes’ talented daughter of Havana Grey was denied the opportunity to take her chance in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh after racecourse veterinary officials raised concerns about her action at the start.

The decision left connections exasperated, particularly as Hughes had already obtained X-rays confirming the filly was sound following similar concerns raised by veterinarians at Newmarket earlier in the season.

Although still angered by the events in Ireland, Hughes is now focused on securing compensation on the racecourse, with the Group Three Jersey Stakes emerging as her most likely Royal Ascot target.

He said: “America Queen is none the worse for her trip. She was 100 per cent afterwards and we are happy with her.

“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, a three-time winner of the Jersey Stakes during his riding career, accepts the filly's action can attract attention at slower speeds.

“Some days she is better than others but it does not stop her running fast,” said the trainer.

America Queen has repeatedly shown her ability against high-class opposition, winning her maiden at Haydock by 12 lengths before placing in the Lowther Stakes and finishing fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

Hughes said: “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.”

The Newmarket trainer remains frustrated by how events unfolded at the Curragh.

He said: “We have had no apology from anyone in Ireland and I wouldn’t expect one.

“But there were two horses in the Guineas (about which concerns were raised at the start) – one an Irish horse and my horse. His horse trotted up similar to mine and he has been asked to get X-rays for the next time it runs to make sure there is nothing sinister going on. I’d already done that, but they were allowed to run.”

Responding to the criticism, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board defended the actions of its veterinary team.

Niall Cronin, the IHRB’s communications manager, said: “The IHRB appreciates the effort and anticipation involved in race preparation and the consequent disappointment for connections where a horse does not ultimately run. However, veterinary officers must make suitability to race decisions on the basis of the horse’s clinical presentation on the day together with the information available to them at the time.

“Regulatory veterinary officers across international racing jurisdictions have a broadly consistent approach to grading apparent lameness. These are clinical assessments involving professional judgement rather than a single mechanistic threshold or test.

“In the case of America Queen, the horse did not improve sufficiently, despite repeated examination and warm-up. Additional veterinary information provided in the course of the examination was not considered sufficient to address the veterinary officers’ concerns regarding the horse’s clinical presentation at the racecourse.

“Although the approach to assessing horses is consistent, different horses may therefore result in different outcomes depending on their clinical presentation, response to examination and warm-up, veterinary history, and the overall welfare and safety assessment made by the veterinary officers on duty.”

For now, connections are drawing a line under the episode and focusing on Royal Ascot, where America Queen will have the opportunity to let her racing do the talking.

Jersey Stakes
£175,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1
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Jersey Stakes Winners

*run at York