DFS Park Hill Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:05 £90,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 6f 132y, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 8th September 2016 | |
1 Simple Verse 3/1
2 Pretty Perfect 13/2
3 California 8/1
NR: Anzhelika (IRE), Frosty Berry
12 ran Distances: nk, 5l, 2¾l
TIME 3m 6.08s (slow by 3.08s)
Simple Verse gets the better of Pretty Perfect in a thrilling Group 2
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Simple Verse returned to the scene of her greatest triumph when running out the narrow winner of the Group Two DFS Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster this afternoon, giving trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Oisin Murphy a 15/1 double on the day following Rich Legacy's victory in the previous race.
The four-year-old filly won last year's Ladbrokes St Leger in controversial circumstances, having been disqualified by the Doncaster stewards on the day of the race before being reinstated as the winner following an appeal by connections.
However, there was no such trouble this afternoon, although Murphy got himself into a bit of bother with the pair struggling to find daylight as the field thundered up the home straight.
At the furlong pole, it looked as if Simple Verse had been left too much to do but she stayed on strongly to collar the Aidan O'Brien-trained Pretty Perfect by a neck in a thrilling finish and record her first victory since she landed the Group One QIPCO British Champions Fillies' and Mares Stakes at Ascot last season on QIPCO British Champions Day.
Beckett was a relieved man following the race and was delighted that his star filly was back in the winner's enclosure.
"I thought Simple Verse was beat because he (Murphy) couldn't get out!" exclaimed the trainer.
"It didn't look good at the half furlong pole but this is her optimum trip and possibly even two miles. I would be keen to go that way next time - the Long Distance Cup would look the obvious race for her on Champions Day (October, 15, Ascot).
"It is great to get her back because it has not been easy. She had a nice, long break after Ascot and then came back with a few issues. We struggled to get her back on song but she did a lovely piece of work on Sunday on the grass and showed all her old zip.
"I am thrilled to bits to get her back because the other two good fillies I had Look Here and Talent did not win at four. It is great to readdress the balance.
"She has needed quite a lot of physio - Char Haywood does a great job with her - and work with our veterinary team. Between them and my head man Adam Kite and her work rider Oscar Pereira it has been a big team effort. I owe it to them.
"We got sucked in to a mile and a half because she ran so well in the Jockey Club Stakes when I hadn't really wound her up. I was glad to be able to give her a break after Ascot and it has worked for us."
DFS Park Hill Stakes
£90,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 6f 132y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (14) | Simple Verse (IRE) 3/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-5 |
R M Beckett | 4 | |
| 2nd | (9) | nk | Pretty Perfect (IRE) 13/2 | J A Heffernan 8-7 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 3rd | (8) | 5 | California (IRE) 8/1 | L Dettori 9-5 |
J H M Gosden | 4 |
| 4th | (11) | 2¾ | Forever Popular (USA) 33/1 | Dane O'Neill 9-5 |
W J Haggas | 4 |
| 5th | (10) | 1 | Abingdon (USA) 5/2f | Andrea Atzeni 8-7 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 3 |
| 6th | (7) | 1¾ | Pamona (IRE) 28/1 | F M Berry 9-5 |
R M Beckett | 4 |
| 7th | (12) | 5 | Tioga Pass 33/1 | M Harley 9-5 |
P F I Cole | 5 |
| 8th | (6) | 4 | Moderah 66/1 | T P Queally 9-5 |
J R Fanshawe | 4 |
| 9th | (3) | 2 | Carnachy (IRE) 12/1 | J P Spencer 9-5 |
D M Simcock | 4 |
| 10th | (4) | 1¼ | Alyssa 11/2 | S De Sousa 8-7 |
R M Beckett | 3 |
| 11th | (2) | 3¾ | Star Rider 50/1 | J Fortune 9-5 |
H Morrison | 4 |
| 12th | (1) | 1 | Mill Springs 28/1 | R Havlin 9-5 |
J H M Gosden | 4 |
| NR | (13) | Anzhelika (IRE) 25/1 | G Baker 9-5 |
D R Lanigan | 4 | |
| NR | (5) | Frosty Berry 33/1 | S A Gray 9-5 |
E De Giles | 7 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2015 Gretchen J H M Gosden Robert Havlin Normandie Stud 5/1
2014 Silk Sari Luca Cumani Andrea Atzeni Fittocks Stud 8/1
2013 The Lark Michael Bell Jamie Spencer Lady Bamford 15/8 fav
2012 Wild Coco Sir Henry Cecil Tom Queally Gest ut Rottgen 7/4 fav
2011 Meeznah David Lanigan Frankie Dettori Saif Ali & Saeed Altayer 5/2
2010 Eastern Aria Mark Johnston Frankie Dettori Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 5/1
2009 The Miniver Rose Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs Julie Wood 28/1
2008 Allegretto Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Cheveley Park Stud 7/4 fav
2007 Hi Calypso Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Philip Newton 9/2
2006 Rising Cross John Best Martin Dwyer Gary Tanaka 16/1
2005 Sweet Stream John Hammond FR Thierry Gillet Team Valor 7/2 fav
2004 Echoes In Eternity Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 5/1
2003 Discreet Brief John Dunlop Pat Eddery Sonia Rogers 8/1
2002 Alexander Three D Barry Hills Michael Hills Miriam O'Callaghan 7/4 fav
2001 Ranin Ed Dunlop Willie Supple Hamdan Al Maktoum 5/1
2000 Miletrian Mick Channon Craig Williams Miletrian Plc 10/1
1999 Mistle Song Clive Brittain Richard Quinn Saeed Manana 8/1
