In an ironic aftermath to Saturday's Rubiton Stakes, beaten favourite Karuta Queen got to spend even more time next to Here De Angels, the horse many believe cost her the race.The pair travelled back to NSW from Melbourne together on Saturday night at close quarters after Karuta Queen's trainer Neville Layt decided at short notice to bring the filly home to Queanbeyan.A noted barrier rogue in Victoria for several seasons, Here De Angels was barred more than once but after being taken over by Gou

In an ironic aftermath to Saturday's Rubiton Stakes, beaten favourite Karuta Queen got to spend even more time next to Here De Angels, the horse many believe cost her the race.

The pair travelled back to NSW from Melbourne together on Saturday night at close quarters after Karuta Queen's trainer Neville Layt decided at short notice to bring the filly home to Queanbeyan.

A noted barrier rogue in Victoria for several seasons, Here De Angels was barred more than once but after being taken over by Goulburn trainer Wendy Roche he was passed by Racing NSW stewards following rigid tests.

But at Caulfield on Saturday, he was back to his old tricks in the stall next to Karuta Queen who missed the start after her neighbour was withdrawn from the race.

She was unable to muster enough speed to get to the front and was out of her comfort zone, eventually finishing fourth to Eagle Falls.

Layt said he wanted to get her back home as soon as possible but the only vacancy was on the float carrying Here De Angels.

"We tried the float companies but they weren't coming back until Monday so Wendy Roche kindly offered a place on the float with Here De Angels," Layt said.

"I wanted Karuta Queen home as soon as possible so that's what we did.

"I understand Here De Angels was perfectly behaved all the way. There were no problems."

Peter Moody had Here De Angels moved away from Black Caviar in the Schweppes Stakes last spring and Layt said he did have some trepidation when he saw the Rubiton barrier draw.

"I thought `oh no'," he said.

"But when the trouble happened I thought they should have backed my filly out of the stall and let her trot around.

"It was schemozzle. But that's racing and we'll move on."

Moving on means abandoning Oakleigh Plate plans and tackling the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Karuta Queen was one of 20 fillies nominated for the Group Two race with entries headed by Flight Stakes winner Streama.

"We'll look at staying in Sydney now but we haven't really looked past the Light Fingers," Layt said.

"We were already playing catch-up and Saturday was the last thing we needed."

The decision to send Karuta Queen to Melbourne for the Rubiton came after the Warwick Farm meeting on February 4 was called off due to surface water on the track and she missed a run.