Failing to take off during the first part of this season, last year's G1 St Leger heroine Simple Verse returned revitalised from a break to take her second major prize over this course and distance. Rounding off her 3-year-old campaign with success in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. to supplement her Leger victory, the bay had returned with a second in the G2 Jockey Club S. over a mile and a half Apr. 30 which led to a tilt at the G1 Coronation Cup. Only fourth in that June 4 contest, she was seventh keeping at that trip for the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot a fortnight later before a time-out was called. Anchored towards the rear off the strong early gallop by Oisin Murphy, she was taken to the inner at the top of the straight as the positively-ridden Pretty Perfect set sail up ahead. Short of room temporarily and giving that rival a four-lengths headstart as a consequence as the furlong pole approached, Simple Verse produced the strong finishing burst that had secured her Classic glory 12 months ago to overhaul the 3-year-old in the final strides.
“I thought she was beaten, but this is her optimum trip,” commented trainer Ralph Beckett, who also saddled the G2 May Hill S. winner Rich Legacy (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). “It's great to get her back, because it hasn't been easy. She had a nice long break after Ascot, she came back and had a few issues and we just struggled to get her back on-song again. She did a lovely piece of work on Sunday morning on the grass and showed all her old zip. I would be keen to go two miles next time and the [G2 QIPCO British Champions] Long Distance Cup [at Ascot Oct. 15] is the obvious race for her.” Her rider added, “Down at the start, she was marching around as she had in the past. I got myself stuck in a pocket with a few stopping in front of me, but thankfully I had a horse good enough to get me out of trouble. I was confident I might pick the filly up in front, but when they are trained by Aidan [O'Brien] they get to the line well and I knew she was a guaranteed stayer. It is a relief more than anything, as today was just a group two and a simple task on paper. Thankfully, she managed to complete it.” Connections Pretty Perfect were understandably delighted with her effort, which nearly paid off having been up with the speed the whole way. “She ran an absolute blinder. We were going into the unknown, stepping up to a mile and six and a strong headwind,” Coolmore's UK representative Kevin Buckley said. “She was beaten by a Classic winner. This has opened up a few more avenues for her now. They will be discussed when we get her back home.”
Simple Verse looked at one stage this summer to be upstaged by her half-sister Even Song after that Ballydoyle trainee had captured the G2 Ribblesdale S., but she continues to hold family honour. The dam, who also produced the G2 Superlative S. third Maxentius (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and has a yearling colt by Declaration of War, descends from Instinctive Move, a half-sister to the champion Law Society and fellow sire Legal Bid who produced the G2 Sun Chariot S. runner-up Feminine Wiles (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), who also filled that position in the G3 May Hill S.
Thursday, Doncaster, Britain
DFS PARK HILL S.-G2, £90,000, DON, 9-8, 3yo/up, f, 14f 132yT, 3:06.08, gd.
1–SIMPLE VERSE (IRE), 131, f, 4, by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
1st Dam: Guantanamera (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Bluffing (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Instinctive Move, by Nijinsky II
(€240,000 Ylg '13 GOFORB). O-QRL/Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani/M Al Kubaisi; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Oisin Murphy. £51,039. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 14f+ & MG1SW-Eng, 12-6-2-1, $1,364,290. *1/2 to Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), GSW-Eng, $181,130; and Maxentius (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pretty Perfect (Ire), 119, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Milanova (Aus), by Danehill. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Milanova Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £19,350.
3–California (Ire), 131, f, 4, Azamour (Ire)–Maskaya (Ire), by Machiavellian. (75,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Denford Stud; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd & P A Byrne (IRE); T-John Gosden. £9,684.
Margins: NK, 5, 2 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 6.50, 8.00.
Also Ran: Forever Popular, Abingdon, Pamona (Ire), Tioga Pass (GB), Moderah (GB), Carnachy (Ire), Alyssa (GB), Star Rider (GB), Mill Springs (GB). Scratched: Anzhelika (Ire), Frosty Berry (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
