Rouget eyeing Saturday return at Lingfield for Qemah

Coronation Stakes heroine Qemah was the surprise name to feature among 13 five-day confirmations for the Group 3 Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday.

Jean-Claude Rouget has entered Al Shaqab's dual Group 1-winning daughter of Danehill Dancer is entered in both the Queen Anne Stakes and Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and is keen to get a suitable prep run into Qemah.

Al Shaqab representitve Rupert Pritchard-Gordon said: "The aim is to go to Lingfield. Jean-Claude called me this morning to say that Qemah will work in Deauville on Tuesday and, all being well, she will be heading over at the weekend. It's good timing and a suitable race looking towards Ascot if all goes well."

Qemah surged to an impressive success over Nemoralia and Alice Springs in the at Royal Ascot last June before confirming herself among the very best fillies in Europe over a mile when scoring in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville the following month.

She rounded off her campaign when third to Alice Springs in the Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.

Rouget is yet to have a runner in Britain this year, a barn in one of his three yards having been struck last month by a deadly outbreak of the EHV-1 virus.

No fillies were affected in the outbreak and Qemah is not reported to have suffered any hold-ups so far this spring.

The BHA have adopted the same policy as France Galop in allowing Rouget's horses to travel under suitable veterinary protocols.