Leger heroine Simple Verse lands Fillies & Mares at Ascot

Simple Verse won the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (image courtesy of racingfotos.com)

St Leger winner Simple Verse brought up a brilliant four-timer as she won a tremendous renewal of the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day.

Besides Simple Verse, the race brought together dual Group 1 winner Covert Love, winner of this race (Madame Chiang) and the Yorkshire Oaks (Tapestry) last year, as well as Vermeille runner-up Candarliya and shock Juddmonte International winner Arabian Queen. It was the last-named who took the field along under newly-crowned Champion Jockey Silvestre De Sousa and, though she settled better than in the Vermeille, she gave way entering the straight.

Journey, in the same George Strawbridge colours carried to success by Flying Officer in the Long Distance Cup little over an hour previously, took up the running and led until well inside the final furlong. That was when Simple Verse, under a well-timed run from Andrea Atzeni, edged by, her stamina ensuring she wouldn’t relinquish the lead, which stood at three-quarters of a length at the line. Beautiful Romance was a further two lengths back in third, ahead of Covert Love.

“They went a nice gallop and it all worked out nicely. Frankie got a length away from me, but I knew my filly stayed and once I got there I knew I’d outstay him.”

“She’s obviously improved, she’s getting stronger and she’ll only get better next year.”

Of course, Atzeni may not be partnering Simple Verse next year, as he departs his role as retained rider for Sheik Farhad, Simple Verse’s owner (via Qatar Racing Limited).

Trainer Ralph Beckett was full of praise for the horse. “It just panned out as we hoped. We know she’s a stayer, and once she gets in a scrap…”

There should be plenty of further opportunities for Simple Verse to ‘get into a scrap’, as in the aftermath of the race her owner immediately nominated the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes over the same C&D as a target for her next year. It’s likely that Simple Verse would need to improve as Atzeni promises for her to develop into a true contender for that race.