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)