Simple’s daughter Pride roars in Lancashire Oaks
Qatar Racing homebred Queen of The Pride, by 4-time Gr.1 winner Roaring Lion and out of dual Gr.1 winner Simple Verse, looked a potential top-level winner herself when following up her Lester Piggott Stakes success in the Lancashire Oaks on Saturday.
Queen of The Pride has come a very long way in a short space of time. Just 5 runs into her career, she has already won a maiden (from 2 subsequent Stakes performers), the Gr.3 Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Pinnacle) and Gr.2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained 4yo filly had boult on her highly encouraging return when winning the Pinnacle by a short head from Lady Bora, and she put far more distance into the same filly when winning the Lancashire Oaks, both races over 12f at Haydock.
Under a well-judged hold-up ride from Oisin Murphy – who is unbeaten in two starts on her – Queen of The Pride hit the line with 3 lengths to spare over Tiffany, who had landed her third Stakes win on the bounce in the Gr.3 Hoppings Stakes a Newcastle 8 days earlier.
Oisin told the press: “She really relaxed today and jumped and travelled. I thought we went a good, even pace and I was quite cautious of the bend, so I went from following Luke Morris (Tiffany) quite closely to giving him a few lengths head start at the top of the straight.
“I was really pleased with how she picked up and she ran right the way through the line. We all thought after she won her last race here that something like the Prix de Royallieu would be a good long-term target and I’m sure that’s in John and Thady’s mind.”
Thady Gosden added: “Obviously she won here last time in the Lester Piggott (Pinnacle) Stakes and she was still a little green and learning then. You could see here today she’s definitely picked up a bit from last time out.
“She has run well here over the mile and a half, so it’s possible (the Yorkshire Oaks). We’ll have to assess our options and see where we go."
Queen of The Pride holds a special place in our hearts as she’s from the only crop left behind by our world champion 3yo Roaring Lion and the second foal out of Simple Verse, who won the St Leger and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes in 2015 for Qatar Racing.