At the end of a three-hour hearing at the British Horseracing Authority headquarters Wednesday, the connections of Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) won their appeal of the disqualification of the 3-year-old filly from victory in the G1 St Leger Sept. 12, making her Qatar Racing's first British Classic winner.
Simple Verse crossed the finish line a head in front of Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Doncaster, but was disqualified and placed second behind that rival by the stewards because of two bumping incidents with Bondi Beach in late stretch. Trainer Ralph Beckett said immediately after the reversal there would be an appeal, and he expressed relief after the verdict by the BHA disciplinary panel Wednesday.
“For me, under our rules, we always had an excellent case, given what has been going on on our racecourses for the last five years in similar instances,” he said. “I thought our brief was excellent and argued it very well and I was confident the panel would see it our way. But obviously you can never be sure.”
Beckett added, “It's not quite the same, and it's never going to be quite the same, in the sense of when you have it taken away on the day. It was horrendous at the time and it's been a pretty miserable 11 days for those who live and work with me. It's not been much fun.”
Andrea Atzeni, the rider of Simple Verse, said during Wednesday's hearing he caused the first incidence of interference, but only because Bondi Beach had leaned on his mount. Bondi Beach's rider Colm O'Donoghue said he thought both pieces of interference had cost his mount the race, but after hearing three hours of evidence and watching the race many times, the panel sided with the connections of Secret Gesture in deciding the two cases of interference did not improve her placing.
David Redvers, racing and bloodstock manager of Qatar Racing, said, “To be honest there are mixed emotions at having won the appeal, a combination of delight, relief and frustration. Naturally, we are very pleased that the panel saw fit to restore Simple Verse to her rightful position of winner of the St Leger, but it is a shame to win a Classic in a windowless basement at 75 High Holborn. It's not quite the same, is it? But our thanks go to Graham McPherson for presenting our case in such a clear and cogent manner.”
Qatar Racing and Beckett are also currently involved in an appeal of the decision of Arlington Park stewards to disqualify their Secret Gesture (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from victory in the GI Beverly D. S. in August. Secret Gesture was placed third in that contest for interference.
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Bondi Beach for the Coolmore partners, was gracious at the conclusion of the hearing, saying, “I am delighted for Ralph Beckett and Sheikh Fahad on his first [British] Classic win. We felt we had a fair hearing and some you win, some you lose. [Jockey Colm O'Donoghue] did his best to give the horse a winning ride and conducted himself like a professional today. Colm lost a Classic, but I'm sure he will get more. Life goes on–some days work for you and some against.”
Coolmore representative Richard Henry added, “as a rule we don't like to win or lose races in an enquiry. The stewards do a very good and difficult job. We congratulate Sheikh Fahad and his team on their Classic success.”
Click here for a video replay of the St Leger.
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