Hughes in hot water again

Richard Hughes protested his innocence after being referred to the Jockey Club following a riding offence at Yarmouth yesterday.

Hughes, on his first day back following a suspension he picked up during Royal Ascot, faces a trip to Portman Square after committing his fifth breach inside 12 months of the instruction governing jockeys riding to their draw when partnering Rupert Of Hentzau in the Dunston Selling Stakes.

Hughes, riding the two-year-old which could be one of the final runners from the yard of banned trainer Mick Quinn, was considered to have deliberately moved across from stall five as the stalls opened.

The Irishman, who said that he'd had no idea what the stewards were inquiring over when they called him in from the sauna, is pinning his hopes on a different reading of events when he appears before the disciplinary committee.

"The horse has jumped out to the right and I had no intention of going over there," said Hughes. "He might have gone across, going from stall five to seven. But it's made no difference whatsoever. There was no interference. I'd certainly no intention of getting into that position, and hopefully Portman Square will see it with a different view."

Indy Rose maintained the irresistible form of David Loder's juvenile bandwagon when romping to an impressive victory in the fillies' maiden. Loder and his Maktoum-owned squad of two-year-olds have now enjoyed 14 successes from 19 outings, and only two of the 15 horses to have run having failed to score.

There was never any doubt Indy Rose would figure in the wrong column, despite some surprising unease in the market which saw the daughter of AP Indy drift to even money before returning at the opening price of 4 to 7.

Indy Rose made all the running having been taken up the centre of the track under Frankie Dettori, a move from stall three which cost the jockey £150 for failing to ride from his draw. She oozed class as she eased clear inside the final quarter to score by five lengths from Perle D'Azur. She'll run at Sandown in a seven-furlong Listed race on July 26th.