Payne hopeful visa hitch will not torpedo Queen Anne mission

Melbourne Cup-winning rider Michelle Payne is keeping her fingers crossed she will be able to travel from Australia to partner Kaspersky in the Queen Anne Stakes despite running into a possible hitch regarding visa requirements.

Payne, who made history as the first woman to ride the winner of Australia's most famous race on 100-1 chance Prince Of Penzance in 2015, said on Saturday: "It's a lot more complicated than we thought, but I'm riding an Australian-owned horse and that could make all the difference, although I don't completely understand why.

"I've got people helping me out from the Victorian Jockeys Association, and my manager has had telephone and email contact with the BHA and the immigration department. There's been a lot of back and forth and it seems like it should be okay because Kaspersky is Australian-owned."

Payne, who rode a winner for Kaspersky's trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam at Warwick on her last visit to Britain in 2009 and is also due to return for August's Shergar Cup, added: "I'm still hoping to arrive on Tuesday, and I'd like to ride track work on him before the race as, not having ridden him before, it would be nice to form an association with him."

Chapple-Hyam said on Saturday: "Michelle isn't here for the season and so far as I know it will be fine. Kaspersky did a nice strong piece of work on the round gallop this morning. It was lovely ground on the Limekilns and he was good.

"Michelle is due to land on Tuesday, and that's also when the American horse American Patriot, who is running in the same race, is due to arrive. He's trained by Todd Pletcher but will be boarding here with me in Newmarket."

American Patriot, a four-year-old by War Front, has won both his starts this year, the latest in the Grade 1 Maker's 46 Mile on turf at Keenelend in April, when getting up close home.

The Queen Anne market is headed by Lockinge Stakes winner Ribchester at a best-priced 10-11, with Kaspersky a 50-1 chance.

Queen Anne Stakes entries