Team Simple Verse To Appeal DQ

Connections of Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) have until the end of the day Tuesday to lodge an appeal against the disqualification of the filly from victory in Saturday’s G1 St Leger, and David Redvers, racing manager to owner Qatar Racing, noted that is the route the owners will take.

“There’s nothing I want to elaborate on but we will be appealing and we’ll let the appeal process take its course,” Redvers told Racing Post. “The big thing that has been mentioned everywhere is inconsistency and that’s the only thing I’ve got to say.”

Robin Mounsey, media manager for the British Horseracing Authority, elaborated on the procedure, saying, “They have 48 hours to appeal, not including Sunday, so until close of play on Tuesday. Then it will just depend on their availability for a hearing–either this Thursday or next Thursday most likely, but to be confirmed.”

The St Leger is the second Grade/Group 1 taken from Qatar Racing and trainer Ralph Beckett in the space of a month–their Secret Gesture (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was disqualified after winning the GI Beverly D. S. Aug. 15. That demotion was also appealed, with no outcome yet revealed. Simple Verse was taken down Saturday after allegedly interfering twice with Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the closing stages before crossing the line a head in front of that colt.