An appeal against the controversial demotion of Ladbrokes St Leger first past the post Simple Verse will be held next week.

The BHA confirmed on Monday an appeal had been lodged by connections of the runner-up, who lost the race to Bondi Beach in the stewards’ room following the race.

An initial appeal date of Thursday this week was changed due to issues with the availability of one of the participants’ counsel. The BHA issued three options – September 22, 23 or 25.

Simple Verse passed the post a head in front of promoted winner Bondi Beach, but the stewards determined that two separate incidents of interference between the pair had denied Bondi Beach the win and reversed the placings.

Trainer Ralph Beckett and David Redvers of owners Qatar Racing both expressed their dismay and pledged to appeal the result.

Explaining their main grounds for appeal on Sunday, Redvers said: “The big thing that has been mentioned everywhere is inconsistency and that’s the only thing I’ve got to say.”

Supplied by Racingpost.com

Picture: Simple Verse (attheraces)

Paul Lafferty is considering aiming Unbelievable Chad at the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans, to be run over 1600m at Turffontein on November 28, and other Johannesburg features. His yard had success in Johannesburg last season with Harry’s Son, who is being kept fit in Mauritius by Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh through regular exercise on the beach.

Lafferty said, “Unbelievable Chad looks to be a very good horse”. He added the colt by Toreador was looking for further.

Unbelievable Chad, who is part-owned by South African swimming legend Chad le Clos, ran out an easy 4,25 length winner of a 1400m maiden at Scottsville on Sunday. His time was almost a second quicker than the fillies maiden over the same distance, which was won by a decent looking sort in the Mike de Kock-trained Rozenna.

Toreador, who was a sprint-miler, is known for producing speedsters, but he appears to have had a new lease of life and two of the best in his youngest racing crop, Prospect Strike, who finished second in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes, and Rikitikitana, who won his maiden over 1600m by 6,75 lengths, look to be milers plus.

Unbelievable Chad could follow suit as he is out of a Rakeen mare, Pink Tinge, who won twice from 1400-1600m and is a half-sister to the Western Winter stallion Lion Tamer, who finished runner up to the great Pocket Power in the J&B Met.

Meanwhile, Harry’s Son has been walking, trotting and galloping on the beach in Mauritius, where he is on the second leg of his five month journey to Dubai. The Australian-bred is enjoying his stay and is his normal laid back self.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Unbelievable Chad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Piere Strydom is now 99% sure he will appeal against the severity of the penalty handed down to him for his ride aboard Dublin Rebel in race 3 at Turffontein on August 27.

Strydom was given a 90 day suspension by the National Horseracing Authority, although forty of the days have been suspended. Strydom has until tomorrow to appeal and will then have 14 days to state his reasons for doing so.

An appeal board will then be formed to hear the case. Strydom will be represented by a lawyer in the hearing.

Strydom’s error of judgement cost Dublin Rebel almost certain victory. He thought he had his two main dangers beaten and believed he had the race won, so began easing his mount down. However, he had failed to notice Top Shot sneaking through on the inside rail until it was too late and the photo-finished proved the latter had won the race by the narrowest of margins.

Strydom later apologised profusely and with genuine remorse in a statement addressed to the connections, punters and the entire racing community and called it the worst mistake of his riding career. He went on to talk about his feeling for horses and his consequent career-long practice of never punishing his mounts unnecessarily. On this occasion he had eased his mount accordingly in the belief he had the race won.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Piere Strydom (Nkosi Hlophe)

KZN form has been standing up well this season and punters face another potentially rewarding day tomorrow at Greyville, where there is an eight race meeting on the polytrack.

In the first, a Maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1200m, Roy’s Queen jumps from a good draw and looks suited to the course and distance, while Anthony Delpech has stayed aboard which is a further bonus.  Euthenia comes from three strong form races and her early pace will help her overcome her wide draw. However, the first timer Estimation must be watched as she is by the top class sire Distorted Humour out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and jumps from a good draw under in form Ian Sturgeon. First-timer Ginger Quill is by up-and-coming sire Ideal World and is a full-sister to the decent sort Zante, although she will likely need further. Hey Georgie Girl must also be watched being by the promising sire Mambo In Seattle out of a Fort Wood twice-winning sprinter. Time Capsule could improve on her fair debut.

The second, a Maiden over 1200m for three-year-olds, and Seymour could improve on debut in which he stayed on behind runaway winner Sylvester The Cat. He jumps from pole and Sean Cormack is now aboard. Lecture D has run some fair races against decent sorts and has Andrew Fortune up from a good draw. He might appreciate the step down in trip after a three month-and-a-half month layoff. Extreme Dubai is an Australian-bred by Oasis Dream and doesn’t have a lot to beat so must be watched.

In the third, a Maiden over 1600m, Guilty As Charged is an improving sort who is distance suited and he could be the one to side with despite a wide draw. Golden Tongue was outpaced and caught a bit wide on debut so looks likely to relish the step up in trip and should have gained something from the experience. Soldier’s Code could improve on his fair debut when green and hanging over this course and distance and Anthony Delpech remains aboard. Roy’s Whistle has faced some good sorts and could earn in this weaker field. Man The Fort should appreciate the step up in trip. Relish is by Rebel King and doesn’t have as much speed as his top class half-brother Trip Tease, so might appreciate the step up in trip, although his pedigree suggests otherwise as it is packed with speed. Royal Champion is consistent and could earn again. Red Apache is a first-timer by Miesque’s Approval, whose progeny go well on the poly, and he is a half-brother to the top class The Apache so he has to be given serious consideration.

The fourth is a Maiden over 1400m for fillies and mares and Alessia went close over course and distance in her last start despite casting a shoe so could get it right this time. Stablemate Martita Ridge ran on well over 1200m on debut and looks to be the danger from a good draw over a step up in trip she will relish. Princess Varunya only faded late the last time she went the course and distance when setting the pace but is drawn identically in barrier ten and that could be her undoing again. Madame Le Roi and Zagora are likely to both improve over this trip. Zara’s Legacy and Thanda could earn although both have tough draws.

The fifth is a MR 64 Handicap over 2000m for fillies and mares and Lady Lago had excuses last time here over 1600m and could make a bold bid over a step up in trip she should enjoy. Lady Ami doesn’t seem to mind wide draws over this course and distance and on recent poly form should be right there. Sword Storm will enjoy the course and distance and is starting off a merit rating of only 64 after a facile maiden win over 1800m so should be running at them late. Likeness was a touch unlucky last time over 1950m at Scottsville when the jockey dropped the whip, so she could be right there from a good draw under the same 4kg claimer. September Storm is well drawn over a suitable course and distance and should be involved in the finish.

The sixth is a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m and Roy’s Winter Patch is a progressive sort who strikes as one who could follow up on his win over 1600m last time, despite having to carry topweight now off a five point higher merit rating. However, if he fluffs his lines it looks very open. Atso Time is an interesting runner as he runs off a merit rating 14 points lower than his sand rating and is well drawn over an ideal trip. Millrace should get closer to Roy’s Winter Patch this time due to a weight turnaround. Nicklaus is in fine form and will be a threat from a good draw although he might prefer 1600m. Military Leader is better than his last start when slow away and overracing over 1600m and he could well appreciate the step back to 1400m. The Poet hasn’t run badly since his maiden win and could earn. Peter Piper should have come on from his last start and together with Excalivar can’t be ignored.

In the seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m, Gumbi was unlucky on Vodacom Durban July day over course and distance when not getting his usual good start and from pole position this front-running type has a good chance over an ideal trip off a two point lowered merit rating. Time Marches On is distance suited and looks to now be off a winning merit rating so he will be a big threat. Max The Man is interesting over a suitable trip from a good draw for a raiding combination who have a high strike rate at this track. The veteran Live Controversy is course and distance suited and Delpech is an eyecatching booking. Black Jaguar is course and distance suited and has his third run after a rest.

The last race is a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and Girlfriend can win it provided she gets a better start than she did last time at Scottsville because she is ideally drawn in two for her front running style. Surtherfini is an honest sort who should be finishing strongly over an ideal course and distance. Grand Fantasy is an improving sort who goes well for this 4kg claimer and she would not be a surprise winner, although she has a tough draw.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Sword Storm (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drakenstein-based sire Duke Of Marmalade was denied a fourth European Classic winner this year when his daughter Simple Verse was demoted in the boardroom after crossing the line first in the St. Leger at Doncaster on Saturday, a head clear of the Aiden O’Brien-trained Bondi Beach.

When the winning connections of Bondi Beach were later presented with the trophy and jockey Colm O’Donoghue the Leger cap, boos and the odd shout were heard ringing out and later Simple Verse’s angry trainer Ralph Beckett vowed he would appeal against the upheld decision.

The decision looked harsh and in fact the following day across the Irish Sea the interference caused by the superstar Golden Horn when winning the Irish Champions Stakes looked far worse, with Free Eagle being the victim, but the result stood after a steward’s enquiry. The margin of victory in both instances must have played a big part (Free Eagle lost momentum to such an extent that he finished only third, beaten one-and-a-half lengths).

Footage of the St. Leger enquiry first shows Simple Verse, who looks full of running, overtaking Bondi Beach but then being kept in a pocket by the latter behind the two horses in front. She then forces her way outward, which was considered “the first bit of interference”. Later when both are driving for the line she shifts outward again and interferes with Bondi Beach, which the stewards call “the second bit of interference”.

However, it is clear that between the time of the first bit of interference and the second, Bondi Beach leans on Simple Verse, and even gives her a small bump. This forces her inward by two or three horse widths. Simple Verse, who was staying ahead all the while, clearly reacts to being leaned on by eventually shifting outward and if she hadn’t she would have risked being pushed on to another slowing horse on her inside.

Atzeni was at pains to point out that he was being leaned on in the enquiry and goes on to say, “The best horse won the race and I think if the other horse was good enough he had plenty of time to get by me. I don’t think my filly would have let him get by me and even if we had gone another lap I don’t think he would have got by me, it was 50/50 (interference).”  Bondi Beach’s jockey Colm O’Donoghue concluded by saying, “Has an instant occurred? Yes. Has it took me off a straight course? Yes. Before the second time in the race my horse had received a severe bump which has obviously taken his breath, knocked him off his stride and his rhythm. He is doing his best and trying his heart out to get back at the filly that obviously has a weight allowance against him, but he’s suffered interference and he’s been beaten a head on the line, and he’s received two instances.”

Atzeni could well have been right in saying the best horse won the race as Simple Verse was unable to go for home when she had wanted and clearly has more gears than the more one-paced galloping type Bondi Beach.

However, despite the number of upheld enquiries in Britain being relatively low, British stewards have never reacted kindly to jockeys forcing their way out of tight situations. That is clearly what Atzeni did when he was full of horse with nowhere to go.

The upheld decision cost Atzeni a second successive St. Leger. Simple Verse would have become the first filly to win the race since 1992. It was the first time a horse had been disqualified from first place in the St Leger since 1789.

This year Duke Of Marmalade’s daughter Sound Of Freedom won the Italian 1000 Guineas, another daughter won the Gr 1 Prix de Diane over 2100m in France (equivalent of the Epsom Oaks) and his son Nutan won the German Derby by five lengths. Drakenstein appear to have timed the purchase of the five-time European Gr 1 winner particularly well as he in unusually high positions on the various European sires logs for a stallion imported to South Africa.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Simple Verse (attheraces)