FRIDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER, 2016 HANDICAPPING AUSSIE FRESHMEN SIRES SIMPLE VERSE BACK TO By James Harron Bloodstock WINNING WAYS AT DONNY As the Spring racing gets into full swing, the first barrier trials for the just-turned 2-year-olds are just around the corner and the first races not far behind that. Probably not the most liquid of betting markets, but an interesting one nevertheless, is that to select which of the first-season stallions will be top of the pile by prizemoney come the end of the season next August. A wager on this particular market last season really would have given punters the proverbial run for their money, with just $400 the margin of victory for Arrowfield Stud's Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock), ahead of Sun Stud's Love Conquers All (Mossman). This column takes a look at some of the leading contenders this year, including Pierro (Lonhro), All Too Hard (Casino Prince), Your Song (Fastnet Rock), Delago Deluxe (Encosta de Lago) and Ocean Park (Thorn Park). Cont. p16 Simple Verse returns to the site of her St Leger win IN TDN AMERICA TODAY and takes out Thursday=s G2 Park Hill S. | Racing Post photo KANTHAROS ON THE MOVE Failing to take off during the first part of this season, last year's Kantharos (Lion Heart), sire of G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen G1 St Leger heroine Simple Verse returned revitalised from a runner-up X Y Jet and the leading active sire in Florida, will break to take her second major prize over this course and relocate to John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Kentucky for the distance. Rounding off her 3-year-old campaign with success in 2017 season. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. to supplement her Leger victory, the bay had returned with a second in the G2 Jockey Club S. over a mile and a half Apr. 30 which led to a tilt at the G1 Coronation Cup. Only fourth in that June 4 contest, she was seventh keeping at that trip for the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot a fortnight later before a time-out was called. Anchored towards the rear off the strong early gallop by Oisin Murphy, she was taken to the inner at the top of the straight as the positively-ridden Pretty Perfect set sail up ahead. Short of room temporarily and giving that rival a four-lengths headstart as a consequence as the furlong pole approached, Simple Verse produced the strong finishing burst that had secured her Classic glory 12 months ago to overhaul the 3-year-old in the final strides. AI thought she was beaten, but this is her optimum trip,@ commented trainer Ralph Beckett, who also saddled the G2 May Hill S. winner Rich Legacy (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). AIt=s great to get her back, because it hasn=t been easy.@ Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 19 • THETDN.COM FRIDAY • 9 SEPTEMBER, 2016 Thursday, Doncaster, Britain Beckett continued, AShe had a nice long break after Ascot, she DFS PARK HILL S.-G2, ,90,000, DON, 9-8, 3yo/up, f, 14f 132yT, came back and had a few issues and we just struggled to get her 3:06.08, gd. back on-song again. She did a lovely piece of work on Sunday 1--SIMPLE VERSE (IRE), 131, f, 4, by Duke of Marmalade (Ire) morning on the grass and showed all her old zip. I would be 1st Dam: Guantanamera (Ire), by Sadler=s Wells keen to go two miles next time and the [G2 QIPCO British 2nd Dam: Bluffing (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) Champions] Long Distance Cup [at Ascot Oct. 15] is the obvious 3rd Dam: Instinctive Move, by Nijinsky II race for her.@ Her rider added, ADown at the start, she was (i240,000 Ylg >13 GOFORB). O-QRL/Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani/M marching around as she had in the past. I got myself stuck in a Al Kubaisi; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Oisin pocket with a few stopping in front of me, but thankfully I had a Murphy. ,51,039. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 14f+ & horse good enough to get me out of trouble. I was confident I MG1SW-Eng, 12-6-2-1, $1,364,290. *1/2 to Even Song (Ire) might pick the filly up in front, but when they are trained by (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), GSW-Eng, $181,130; and Maxentius Aidan [O=Brien] they get to the line well and I knew she was a (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: guaranteed stayer. It is a relief more than anything, as today was A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. just a group two and a simple task on paper. Thankfully, she 2--Pretty Perfect (Ire), 119, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)--Milanova (Aus), by managed to complete it.@ Connections Pretty Perfect were Danehill. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; understandably delighted with her effort, which nearly paid off B-Milanova Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O=Brien. ,19,350. having been up with the speed the whole way. AShe ran an 3--California (Ire), 131, f, 4, Azamour (Ire)--Maskaya (Ire), by absolute blinder. We were going into the unknown, stepping up Machiavellian. (75,000gns Ylg >13 TAOCT). O-Denford Stud; to a mile and six and a strong headwind,@ Coolmore=s UK B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd & P A Byrne (IRE); T-John Gosden. representative Kevin Buckley said. AShe was beaten by a Classic ,9,684. winner. This has opened up a few more avenues for her now. Margins: NK, 5, 2 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 6.50, 8.00. They will be discussed when we get her back home.@ Also Ran: Forever Popular, Abingdon, Pamona (Ire), Tioga Pass (GB), Moderah (GB), Carnachy (Ire), Alyssa (GB), Star Rider (GB), Cont. p3 Mill Springs (GB). Scratched: Anzhelika (Ire), Frosty Berry (GB). TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 19 • THETDN.COM FRIDAY • 9 SEPTEMBER, 2016 Park Hill S. cont. Successful over seven furlongs on debut at Newmarket Aug. 12 Simple Verse looked at one stage this summer to be upstaged and fourth just 15 days later in the G3 Prestige S. over that trip by her half-sister Even Song after that Ballydoyle trainee had at Goodwood, Rich Legacy took another step forward during a captured the G2 Ribblesdale S., but she continues to hold family busy spell to land this prestigious affair and form the first part of honour. The dam, who also produced the G2 Superlative S. third an afternoon group- Maxentius (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and has a yearling race double for trainer colt by Declaration of War, descends from Instinctive Move, a Ralph Beckett. Settled half-sister to the champion Law Society and fellow sire Legal Bid in the slipstream of her who produced the G2 Sun Chariot S. runner-up Feminine Wiles Prestige conqueror (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), who also filled that position in the G3 Kilmah (GB) (Sepoy May Hill S. Click for the Racing Post result or the free {Aus}) early, the bay Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by was sent to the front Fasig-Tipton. and into the headwind by Oisin Murphy Rich Legacy | Racing Post photo approaching the final quarter mile. Tackled Thursday, Doncaster, Britain and headed by Grecian Light at the furlong pole, she responded CLUGSTON CONSTRUCTION MAY HILL S.-G2, ,70,000, DON, gamely to regain the advantage 100 yards later and stayed on 9-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:41.24, gd. strongly as that rival wilted. AShe=s a lovely straightforward filly 1--#@RICH LEGACY (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) who has crept up on us,@ Beckett explained. AI was surprised 1st Dam: Borghesa (Ger), by Galileo (Ire) when she won first time, as I hadn=t really seen it at home, but 2nd Dam: Britannia (Ger), by Tarim they are the best ones. She looked like she was going nowhere 3rd Dam: Bonna (Ger), by Salvo halfway. She raced very lazily, but she really put it to bed well. (i28,000 Wlg >14 GOFNOV; i30,000 RNA Ylg >15 GOFORB; She=s in the [G1 Prix] Marcel Boussac [at Chantilly Oct. 2] and i75,000 2yo >16 ARQMAY). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Gestut Ammerland (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Oisin Murphy. ,39,697. that may be the race for her, as she=s not in the [G1] Fillies= Mile Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $60,892. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click [at Newmarket Oct. 7].@ Her jockey added, AShe was a bit for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. hot-headed and could have boiled over, but he gave her a bit of 2--Grecian Light (Ire), 126, f, 2, Shamardal--Akrivi (Ire), by time in between races and she has had very good handling at Tobougg (Ire). (260,000gns Ylg >15 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; home. That has been the key to her. She loved every yard of the B-Stilvi Compania Financiera SA (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. trip and you=d say she=d get further in time. Whether she would ,15,050. be an Oaks filly, I=m not sure as she=s by Holy Roman Emperor.@ 3--Urban Fox (GB), 126, f, 2, Foxwedge (Aus)--Lomapamar (GB), Grecian Light=s trainer Charlie Appleby said, AWe might drop her by Nashwan. (10,000gns Ylg >15 TAOCT). O-Saeed Manana; back to seven for the [G2] Rockfel [S.