Champion efforts from Verse and Spear
Another stunning QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot produced some outstanding winners and two excellent efforts from Qatar Racing's runners.
Both Simple Verse (QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup) and Lightning Spear (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO) finished third, and, given the way the races were run, raised every hope of further successes.
A steady early pace did not suit Simple Verse, who was staying on at the finish, but could not quite peg back the first two, Sheikhzayedroad and Quest For More, while Lightning Spear was beaten by dual Classic heroine Minding and top miler Ribchester, who both raced on the far side, while he came up the stands' side before moving across as the final furlong approached.
Ralph Beckett, the trainer of Simple Verse, said: "She certainly stayed the trip and she ran a good race so I'm pleased with her effort. [In the home straight] I felt she was going to run out of racecourse, and so it proved - the winner was given a very good ride [by Martin Harley].
"The steady pace would not have helped her - that's it for this year."
Beckett said the filly's future had not been discussed, but David Redvers, racing manager to Qatar Racing, said Simple Verse would stay in training and be targeted at long-distance races.
Lightning Spear's trainer, David Simcock, said: "It was a career-best performance - hindsight says the far side would have been better, but he's quickened up very, very well and has been beaten by two very good horses. He made up a lot of ground on them, and they weren't stopping - he'll have his day.
"It will be up to David Redvers and Sheikh Fahad to decide on his future, but of course I would love to have him back next year."
Redvers said: "He had three Classic winners behind him [Awtaad, Galileo Gold and Jet Setting], and if you ran the race a couple of times you could come up with a different result. Minding is a filly of a lifetime, so we're delighted - he's put up a career-best run. It would have been lovely to have won it and gone straight off to stud, but we'll have to sit down and think now.
"He might stay in training - I'll discuss that with Sheikh Fahad, but he's just run better than ever. He's an off-the-pace horse, but was probably on the wrong side in the end. He likes a really strong gallop from end to end and they didn't go that quickly in the first two furlongs.‚"
Other winners today included Almanzor (pictured right), who was outstanding once again when landing the QIPCO Champion Stakes, Journey, who took the Fillies and Mares Stakes she was second to Simple Verse in the race last year and The Tin Man, who finally won a Group One prize when landing the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes.
Jewers takes 8 to Follow top prize
David Jewers from Chelmsford in Essex won this year's Qatar Racing 8 to Follow competition which reached a conclusion at Ascot this afternoon.
Had Lightning Spear finished second, not third, he would have lost out to Dhgdale Family, but instead he left Ascot this evening £10,000 richer. Dhgdale Family finished second and Rob Middlemiss third.
A full report on the competition and reaction from the first three will be posted tomorrow.
Almanzor photo: Laurence Squire