2021 Melbourne Cup winner and Australian racing heroine Verry Elleegant landed an incredible eleventh top-level career win on Saturday to remain firmly on course for a repeat at Flemington on November 1 (see the list of Mebourne Cup horses).
Chris Waller’s mare was winning her 16th race in all, fighting her way through the mud at Randwick. Stepping all the way back to 1600 metres for the Chipping Norton Stakes, James McDonald’s mount had to battle hard to see off outsider She’s Ideel by just a short head in New South Wales.
Ranvet Once Again on the Cards
Trainer Waller was said to be “touched” by the mare’s victory. In landing a second Chipping Norton, the daughter of Zed took her career prize money earnings to just shy of $15 million.
Another tenacious performance meant the mare stays bang on track for the Cup. Chris Waller has nominated the Ranvet Stakes for Verry Elleegant next, a race she won last year from old foe Addeybb. The All-Star Mile is also a possibility.
Waller may well be loathe to change too much of her schedule from last year. Although kept busy, she was fresh enough when stepped up to 3200 metres for the Melbourne Cup which she won by an impressive four lengths from long-time favourite Incentivise. Both horses remain unchanged at odds of 11.00 with the TAB for this year’s race.
The Verry Elleegant camp looks likely to target first the Ranvet in March before heading back to the Queen Elizabrth Stakes three weeks later.
Elleegant’s Battling Qualities Key for Cup Bid
While luck in running at Flemington on November 1 will be as crucial as ever, battling qualities are crucial.
In the Chipping Norton, Verry Ellegant got into a long-running battle down the Randwick straight on heavy going. The 6/4 favourite looked to be beaten with 100 metres to go, too.
Ultimately however the most game mare got the better of 70/1 shot She’s Ideel by a short head, 60/1 poke Angel Of Truth a further length-and-a-quarter back in third place.
Jockey James McDonald was adamant after the race that Verry Elleegant is still getting better. As well as her apparent continued improvement however, it’s her toughness that sets her apart.
Win, lose or draw, this mare has never shirked a fight. From the gates opening to the tough home straight, the Melbourne Cup needs a scrapper and so having taken care of this hurdle, it’s impossible to see too many being better than the defending champ.
Her TAB odds remain unchanged for now after Randwick. It will be very interesting however to see how the market reacts should she land another repeat win in the Ranvet in three weeks’ time.
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