Simple Verse Up in Time at Ascot

Simple Verse tallied the second group I win of her career Oct. 17 after chasing runner-up Journey into the Ascot straight and getting past that rival close to home in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.

 

Saturday's victory was especially sweet for owner Sheikh Fahad al Thani. His 3-year-old Duke of Marmalade filly was recently reinstated as the winner in the Sept. 12 Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I) on appeal after her stunning disqualification in the Doncaster classic for interference.

 

"Doncaster was Doncaster, and it makes this all the sweeter," said Sheikh Fahad, who was surrounded by family. "She will stay in training and will be in all the top mile-and-a-half races. She might even be a King George filly. I would love to see her in that, but I will have to sit down with (trainer) Ralph (Beckett) and make a plan.

 

"This is a real family affair for me and it is great to collect the trophy from my mother and to be here with all my brothers."

 

Journey got clear in the stretch for Frankie Dettori after grabbing control from pacesetter Arabian Queen a quarter mile out. But Simple Verse, forwardly placed throughout by Andrea Atzeni and taken wide for her rally, set out in pursuit of the front-runner, showing plenty of stamina to get past for a three-quarter-length triumph.

 

At 5-1 odds, Simple Verse covered 1 1/2 miles on good turf in 2:30.01.

 

"We hoped to sit in behind and it panned out as we hoped," Beckett said. "I'm not sure Ascot suits because the straight is too short for her, but once she gets in a scrap . . . and Andrea was clever and brought her wide to avoid the leader."

 

Beautiful Romance, a 20-1 longshot, checked in two lengths behind Journey, denying third place to 4-1 favorite Covert Love.  

 

Irish-bred Simple Verse was unraced at 2 and has a 5-1-1 record from 8 starts this year. She was sold by her breeder Barronstown Stud at the 2013 Orby yearling sale for €240,000 ($325,872) to Sheikh Fahad's racing and bloodstock adviser David Redvers. Her dam is the unraced Sadler's Wells mare Guantanamera.

 

Atzeni, who will be leaving his position as retained rider for Qatar Racing at the end of the season to join trainer Roger Varian, said Saturday's win with Simple Verse was the perfect way to end the successful partnership.

 

"It was amazing, to get a winner today mainly for Sheikh Fahad, when he and his brothers sponsor (QIPCO British Champions Day). Sheikh Fahad has been a great boss and to end with a group I win for him is great."