Duke Of Marmalade – during his racing days
Duke Of Marmalade’s smart daughter Simple Verse won her second Group One race in rather less controversial circumstances with a game display in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
Demoted after being first past the post in the Ladbrokes St Leger and reinstated on appeal, the Ralph Beckett-trained filly was a worthy winner as she wore down Journey in the hands of Andrea Atzeni.
Frankie Dettori stole a handy lead on John Gosden’s supplemented charge and looked like collecting, but the stamina of Simple Verse (5-1) kicked in and she asserted close home to win by three-quarters of a length.
Beautiful Romance was two lengths away in third.
Atzeni said: “Frankie took a few lengths out of me, but I knew my filly would stay to the very end.
“I got a lovely lead into the race, she picked up well and she can only get better.”
Atzeni will soon leave his role as retained rider to owner Sheikh Fahad and added: “I’m grateful to Sheikh Fahad and his brothers – Sheikh Fahad has been a great boss to me this season and to end the season with a big winner is great.”
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| QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES (ENG-I), Ascot, Group I Stakes, £437,027, 3 yo’s & up, Fillies, 12F, 2:32.01, GD-S. | ||
| 1 | Simple Verse (IRE) (Bay Filly, 3 yo), B, £327,858
Duke of Marmalade (IRE) – Guantanamera (IRE), by Sadler’s Wells B: Barronstown Stud; O: QRL / SHEIKH SUHAIM AL THANI / M AL KUBAISI; T: BECKETT RALPH; J: ATZENI ANDREA.
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| 2 | Journey (GB) (Bay Filly, 3 yo), A++, £124
Dubawi (IRE) – Montare (IRE), by Montjeu (IRE) B: George Strawbridge; O: George Strawbridge; T: GOSDEN JOHN;J: DETTORI FRANKIE. |
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| 3 | Beautiful Romance (GB) (Bay Filly, 3 yo), A++, £298
New Approach (IRE) – Mazuna (IRE), by Cape Cross (IRE) B: RABBAH BLOODSTOCK LTD; O: Godolphin; T: BIN SUROOR SAEED; J: DOYLE JAMES. |
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| Margins: ¾, 2, neck.
Others: COVERT LOVE (IRE), BOCCA BACIATA (IRE), ARABIAN QUEEN (IRE), SEA CALISI (FR), TAPESTRY (IRE), SPEEDY BOARDING, MADAME CHIANG, CANDARLIYA (FR), LADY TIANA. |
