Agencies/London

Qatar Racing Limited’s Simple Verse flew the flag for the three-year-old division as she landed the Group Three Markel Insurance Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.
Sporting the second colours of owners Qatar Racing, the Ralph Beckett-trained winner was sent off at lucrative odds in the hands of Harry Bentley and he kept her in mid-division in the early part of the race.
Frankie Dettori tried to make every yard on Criteria but they were lining up in behind to challenge turning for home.
Lustrous was the first to play her hand, quickly followed by Jordan Princess and Kaldera, but Bentley’s mount produced her run with around a furlong to travel, quickening to the front before pulling away.
Hidden Gold tried her best to reel her in, but Simple Verse was a length and a half too good, with Jordan Princess back in third.
Bentley was securing his second winner of the week and said: “I was absolutely delighted to get my first Glorious winner and it’s fantastic to get another, especially in a race like this.
“She stepped up from her last run, she stepped up in trip, she was the youngest in the race and was obviously getting an allowance and was only carrying 8st 6lb which over this distance tells.
“She could potentially stay a bit further in time. At the moment I would probably stay at a mile and six but if she had to go two miles in the future, I’m not saying she wouldn’t get it by any means as she’s a lovely filly. There’s no reason why not.”
Beckett immediately pointed to the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September as possible target for the winner, although the option of supplementing her for the Ladbrokes St Leger has not been ruled out.
Beckett said: “She’s been a slow burner, so we will see. She’s definitely a Park Hill filly anyway so we will see how we go from there but that would be the obvious race for her.
“We will see (about supplementing her for the St Leger). I was really pleased with her. It (the Leger) is a race we’ve been placed in with fillies in the past so we will see how we go.
“I was delighted today, Harry gave her an excellent ride.
“She’s an old-fashioned type, you could see her jumping a hurdle, thankfully she doesn’t have to do that!”
Saeed bin Suroor said of Hidden Gold: “She has run very well, we gave her a break as she had a hard winter.
“She looked much better today than she ever has done, I think she needs two miles, though. We’ll keep options open.”

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