HUGHES THIRST IS QUENCHED

Jockey Richard Hughes will stick with Khalid Abdullah's progressive filly Quenched (DANSILI), who was yesterday supplemented for Thursday's Ribblesdale Stakes.

He had the pick of the 3 Abdullah-owned hopefuls who were among the 18 entries for the Group Two race at yesterday's 5-day declaration stage. However, Innocent Air, who also comes from the Gosden yard is unlikely to run if the ground remains firm while Henry Cecil's contender Novellara will take her chance with Eddie Ahern in the saddle.

"Innocent Air won't run unless there is a deluge" said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Abdullah. "At this stage she is very unlikely and we will now look at something like the Lancashire Oaks."

Grimthorpe offered more than satisfactory report cards for both Novellara and Quenched who were put into the Ribblesdale field.

"She likes fast ground but obviously it’s a big step up to Gr.2."

Hughes has sampled all 3 fillies either on the gallops or the racecourse, but there was a lot to like about the way that Quenched stretched her winning margin over Green Room to more than 3 lengths in a fillies mdn on firm ground at Lingfield over 10f.

Date: 19 June 2006