Simple Verse reads Ascot script perfectly Simple Verse won her second Group One race in rather less controversial circumstances with a game display in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot. Demoted after being first past the post in the Ladbrokes St Leger and reinstated on appeal, the Ralph Beckett-trained filly was a worthy winner as she wore down Journey in the hands of Andrea Atzeni. Frankie Dettori stole a handy lead on John Gosden's supplemented charge and looked like collecting, but the stamina of Simple Verse (5-1) kicked in and she asserted close home to win by three-quarters of a length. Beautiful Romance was two lengths away in third. Atzeni said: "Frankie took a few lengths out of me, but I knew my filly would stay to the very end. "I got a lovely lead into the race, she picked up well and she can only get better." Atzeni will soon leave his role as retained rider to owner Sheikh Fahad and added: "I'm grateful to Sheikh Fahad and his brothers - Sheikh Fahad has been a great boss to me this season and to end the season with a big winner is great."
