Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire})'s team have yet to discuss which race last year's dual Classic heroine will contest on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Oct. 15. The Ralph Beckett-trained 4-year-old, winner of the G1 St Leger in 2015, holds entries in the G1 Fillies & Mares S., which she won last season, and the G2 Long Distance Cup. After falling short in three races over a mile and a half this term, Simple Verse got her head back in front with a last-gasp victory in the Sept. 8 G2 Park Hill S. at Doncaster when returning to the scene of her St Leger triumph the previous September.
“Ralph's plan immediately after the Park Hill was to go for the stayers' race,” said David Redvers, racing manager for owners Qatar Racing. “Whether she goes for that depends if she stays in training next season. That is a discussion myself, Ralph and Sheikh Fahad have yet to have. At this moment in time she will go for one or the other. Ralph feels strongly about the stayers' race but it is only a Group 2 and she is Classic winner. If we decide to go down the staying route next season, there is a chance she will go for the longer race.”
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