Verse goes for QIPCO Long Distance Cup
Simple Verse will line up in Saturday's Gr.2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, rather than the Gr.1 Fillies' and Mares' Stakes she won last year.
Trainer Ralph Beckett expressed his keenness to go up in trip for the two-mile test after the filly won last month's Gr.2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, and that has now been confirmed as her target on Europe's richest race day. Qatar Racing's other runner on the day will be Lightning Spear, who runs in the Gr.1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Ten horses have been declared for the staying race, in which Simple Verse will be the sole filly she receives 3lb from her male rivals, who are headed by recent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third Order of St George. He is a course winner, having landed the Gold Cup at the Royal Meeting.
Last year's winner Forgotten Rules returns to attempt back-to-back wins, while Quest For More won the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at Chantilly recently. Prior to that he was just beaten in the Doncaster Cup, won by Sheikhzayedroad, who is another candidate for Saturday's race.
Fourteen horses are set to line up in the Gr.1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, and 13 in the Gr.1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes. Another 13 make up the field for the Gr.1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, in which Lightning Spear bids to win a race at the top level for the first time. He landed Goodwood's Gr.2 Celebration Mile on his latest start.
The QEII brims with talent and Classic winners. Galileo Gold (QIPCO 2,000 Guineas), Awtaad (Irish 2,000 Guineas), supplementary entry Jet Setting (Irish 1,000 Guineas) and Minding (Oaks), have all won Classic races this year and make up a very strong squad of three-year-olds. Yet they could be trumped by another member of their age group, Ribchester, who won the Gr.1 Prix Jacques Le Marois on his most recent outing. Lightning Spear's stablemate, the David Simcock-trained Breton Rock, is another whose consistency in Group races makes him one to note.
Recent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Found is but one star among the 11 declared for the Gr.1 QIPCO British Champions Stakes, but the horse who beat her into second in the race last year, Fascinating Rock, lines up again. Another very strong candidate is the outstanding Almanzor, who also headed Found when they were first and second in last month's Irish Champion Stakes.
The valuable 23-runner Balmoral Handicap completes the card, which starts at 1.25pm, and is being shown live in Britain on Channel 4 and Racing UK.