Hushing (left) & Court Queen (right) share the spoils with Shinko Princess in between© Photo Healy Racing
The judge was called into action in the opener at Tipperary and couldn't split the front pair in the five furlong maiden as Hushing and Court Queen shared the spoils.
7/4 favourite Hushing was soon prominent, under Billy Lee, and Willie McCreery's charge was in front passing the two pole.
8/1 shot Court Queen joined her on the outer passing the furlong marker with Shinko Princess a close third.
The Fozzy Stack-trained Court Queen looked to have the edge inside the final furlong, under Pat Smullen, but Hushing found more close home and got up at the line to dead-heat.
The win moved Smullen back on terms with Colin Keane in the jockeys title race and he said:- "Obviously it's great for her pedigree to get a win under her belt and I always thought she was capable of winning a race like this.
“Conditions were right but Billy having the rail was a big help to him and my one wandered around a little bit but to be fair the last 50 yards she stuck her head down and hit the line good."
Lee said afterwards:- "I quickened with 100 yards to go and I thought I had it but it's great to get a win out of her; her brother is after winning so she's a valuable broodmare now.
“She is still improving and is only starting to cop on that she's a sprinter now, so hopefully she can keep going forward now."
(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)
