Simple Verse in running for two Cartier Awards
The Ralph Beckett-trained three-year-old is nominated for the three-year-old fillies' and stayers' categories, and after a storming conclusion to her first season of racing she is a logical contender for both awards. It is the 25th time that Cartier has staged the ceremony, which takes place at the Dorchester and reflects some of the great racing achievements of the Flat racing season.
Recent past winners - who were all awarded the title 'Horse of the Year' - include last year's champion miler Kingman, Treve and Frankel who were both dual winners, Goldikova, Sea The Stars, Zarkavaand Dylan Thomas. Golden Horn is favourite to take that title this year, but every nominee, including Simple Verse, is in with a chance of top billing.
A daughter of Duke Of Marmalade, bred at Barronstown Stud in Ireland, Simple Verse races for a partnership involving Qatar Racing, Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani and Mohammed Al Kubaisi. She was purchased by David Redvers for €240,000 as a yearling at Goffs' Orby Sale.
Unraced at two, she finished sixth in a 10-furlong Polytrack maiden at Lingfield Park on her debut in February, and gained a first victory on her third start, winning another Lingfield Park maiden on Polytrack, this time over a mile and a half, in good style on April 8.
From that point on she just kept getting better, and after a Salisbury handicap win in a good time she landed the Gr.3 Markel Insurance Fillies' Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and followed up in the Gr.1 Ladbrokes St Leger - she was initially demoted to second behind runner-up Bondi Beach, but later became the first horse to lose a British Classic in the stewards' room and be awarded the race on appeal.
Simple Verse's final start of the season came over a mile and a half in the Gr.1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot on October 17, when she once again displayed her battling qualities, running on gamely to beat Journey by three quarters of a length.
She is set to stay in training next year and may return to Ascot for a tilt at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO).