Simple Verse reinstated as St Leger winner

Connections of Simple Verse have won their appeal against the demotion of the filly from first place in the St Leger at Doncaster.

A disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority reversed the decision of the local stewards to promote the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bondi Beach into top spot in the final Classic of the season on September 12th.

A stewards’ inquiry was called on the day as the pair appeared to bump twice in the closing stages and there was only a head between them at the line. Following a tense wait, during which jockey Andrea Atzeni and Bondi Beach’s rider Colm O’Donoghue argued their respective cases in front of the stewards live on Channel 4, the announcement was made that Simple Verse had been placed second.

The decision shocked her trainer Ralph Beckett, owners Qatar Racing and Atzeni. Straight away they announced their intention to appeal.

Beckett and Atzeni were supported at the hearing at High Holborn in London by David Redvers, racing manager for the owners, Graeme McPherson QC, instructing solicitor Andrew Chalk and Qatar Racing representatives John Maxse and Kevin Darley.

O’Brien and O’Donoghue represented Bondi Beach alongside John Kelsey-Fry QC and instructing solicitor Kevin Power.

Beckett and Qatar Racing are also currently involved in a high-profile hearing with the Illinois Racing Board across the Atlantic in an attempt to have Secret Gesture reinstated as the winner of the Beverly D Stakes following her relegation to third place at Arlington Park in Chicago.

Beckett said: “For me, under our rules, we always had an excellent case, given what has been going on on our racecourses for the last five years in similar instances.

“I thought our brief (McPherson) was excellent and argued it very well and I was confident the panel would see it our way. But obviously you can never be sure.

“It’s not quite the same, and it’s never going to be quite the same, in the sense of when you have it taken away on the day. It was horrendous at the time and it’s been a pretty miserable 11 days for those who live and work with me. It’s not been much fun.”

Atzeni had been very emotional when the original verdict was made, admitting to being in tears in the stalls before the race following the Leger — which he won on Captain Morley in the Qatar Racing colours.

The rider said: “I feel a relief, it’s a big thing as you don’t win Classics every day, they are very hard to win, especially on a filly. For me to win a Classic for Sheikh Fahad in my first year (as retained rider) is massive for everyone involved.

“On the day I was heartbroken and was very sad. However, there are worse things in life and at least we got it back and we can move forward now.

“I think I got more text messages and phone calls losing it than when I won it last year (on Kingston Hill). Those little messages can really lift you up.”