Beckett - 'We will appeal Simple Verse leger disqualification'

Less than a month ago the Beckett-trained Secret Gesture, ridden by Jamie Spencer, was demoted to third after beating her rivals in the Gr.1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington, and so it was cruelly sickening for the trainer and all connected with Qatar Racing when a similar demotion was handed out after today's race. Simple Verse, who was ridden by Andrea Atzeni, would have been a first Classic success for Sheikh Fahad.

The race was handed to runner-up Bondi Beach, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Colm O'Donogue, and beaten a head at the line, but in the aftermath Beckett made it clear an appeal would be lodged with the British Horseracing Authority. His runner, the only filly in the race, had been engaged in a home-straight tussle with Bondi Beach, during which he leaned upon her and she bumped him.

Jim McGrath, Channel 4 Racing's senior analyst, said: "The best horse passed the post in front."

Asked for his reaction, Beckett said: "Astonished! There is no consistency in the rule. We saw only a week ago, when Stuart Williams' Suzi's Connoisseur ran at Ascot, and John Gallagher's horse [Majestic Moon] ridden by Michael Murphy came right across the track - Joe Fanning on Suzi's Connoisseur had to stand up in the stirrups, but he didn't get the race.

"We lose the race when, whichever way you look at it, clearly both horses leaned on each other. Can you really say it was all her fault?

"I don't think I can answer that question - can anybody else?"

"One thing is certain. We will appeal this."

Atzeni was disconsolate, and said: "It's a terrible shame for the boss - he deserves a big winner," while Paul Barton, a member of the stewards' panel, when asked about consistency in stewarding, said: "I believe we are doing it [making decisions] consistently. Every incident has a different nuance to it. It's a refereeing decision and we make it on sound principals."

Although clearly upset, Atzeni did not let the disqualification of Simple Verse affect his riding, and he took the next race, a handicap, in Qatar Racing's colours on the David Simcock-trained Captain Morley.