Verse part of absorbing female challenge for Coronation Cup
Simple Verse's bid for tomorrow's Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup promises to a be a highlight of Investec Derby Day at Epsom.
The mile-and-a-half contest is nothing if not absorbing, for it features no fewer than three outstanding fillies all winners at the highest level against some superb male horses, not least Postponed, who won last year's Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in association with QIPCO at Ascot. More recently he won the Gr.1 Sheema Classic in Dubai, and promises to be a very hard nut to crack.
However, he has to give weight to the trio of fillies who would grace any stable. Found won last year's Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Turf, Arabian Queen beat Derby winner Golden Horn in the Gr.1 Juddmonte International, while Qatar Racing's Simple Verse beat the colts in the Gr.1 St Leger and then landed the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.
She was crowned Cartier's Champion Stayer and won the ROA's leading filly and mare award at the end of last season, and showed her wellbeing recently when runner-up in the Gr.2 Dunaden at Overbury Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
Simple Verse's trainer, Ralph Beckett, says: ‚"She worked well on Monday and came out of it as we would like. The rain that has fallen in the past week will have helped her cause.‚"
The same could not be said of Arod, who was withdrawn from today's Gr.3 Investec Diomed Stakes which he won last year because the going was adjudged to be softer than ideal, while Pearl Bloodstock's Diamonds Pour Moi was pulled up rounding Tattenham Corner during the Gr.1 Investec Oaks, but was later reported none the worse.
The filly got a good break from the stalls and held a handy position in fourth or fifth as the nine runners headed to the highest point of the course. However, as they began rounding the downhill turn before the approach to Tattenham Corner she came off the bridle and was soon relegated to last place.
A few strides later jockey Oisin Murphy dropped his hands, let her coast into the straight and then pulled her up and jumped off her back. A horse ambulance was sent to collect her, but back at the racecourse stables a check-over revealed no issues.
David Redvers, racing manager to Pearl Bloodstock, said: ‚"She lost her action, but seems fine.‚"
Immediately after the race, Murphy said: ‚"She doesn't seem too distressed, but she is obviously not 100 per cent. It is unfortunate, but she will live to fight another day.‚"
Dulverton"s bid to win tomorrow's Gr.1 Queensland Oaks for Qatar Bloodstock and Robert Smerdon's stable was thwarted by heavy rain which resulted in the meeting at Eagle Farm being abandoned. Officials now plan to stage the race as part of an enhanced card that will include the Queensland Derby on Saturday week, June 11.
Other Stakes runners for the team this weekend include the Freddy Head-trained Qatar Power, who tackles the Listed Prix Des Lilas (15.20) at Deauville.
At the Curragh, trainer Ger Lyons saddles Ainippe in the Gr.3 Ballyogan Stakes (18.00) and Chemical Charge in the Listed Silver Stakes (18.30).
Photograph of Simple Verse: Laurence Squire