Proud Kiwi Breeders of Verry Elleegant

Media Release - Tuesday November 2

Don Goodwin can now add Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) breeder and owner to his resume after Verry Elleegant was a resounding winner of the staying feature at Flemington on Tuesday.

Verry Elleegant wins the Melbourne Cup - image Grant Courtney

The winner of nine prior Group One races, Goodwin was confident of a bold showing from his classy mare and he was jubilant she was able to pull the historic win off.

“I am immensely proud,” Goodwin said from his Auckland home.

“I was pretty confident but I was even more confident at the end of the big straight at the start of the race. It was a brilliant ride, he (jockey James McDonald) just got her in the right position.

“When she was racing six or seven back in the clear down the back straight, I thought yep, we’ll be right in this, she will be hard to bowl here, and so she proved.

“If want to show young apprentice jockeys how to ride a staying race show them that.”

The Chris Waller-trained mare had put in a fine performance to finish third in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley just over a week ago, and Goodwin said she thrives on a short back-up.

“The last time she had a short break with seven days up, she came out with a similar win in the Tancred (Gr.1, 2400m). She thrives on a short break between races,” he said.

“I thought the Oaks win at Randwick was pretty good, but the Melbourne Cup, oh Christ.”

Out of broodmare gem Opulence, Verry Elleegant is by Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, a sire Goodwin has been a great supporter of over the years.

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“He is a well-bred sire, but he is not a physically imposing sire,” Goodwin said.

“She is the best of them and the mare (Opulence) is in foal to Zed again. He is not a one-horse wonder.

“Opulence goes back through Cotehele House to Eight Carat who is one of the best broodmares in New Zealand.

“It is a very good family.”

Winning a Melbourne Cup had been a dream of Goodwin’s for many years, and he said to finally win one has been one of the biggest highlights of his life.

“For Kiwis and Aussies, it is the race that stops two nations and we won it,” he said.

“I will live on this for years, as long as I stay alive.

“It is the best Tuesday I have had in my life, you don’t have too many good Tuesdays.” – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Lexus Melbourne Cup Gr1 3200m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 3:17.43
1
Verry Elleegant
- 6m Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
4.0
Incentivise
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Miss Argyle (AUS) (Iglesia (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Prebble 57
3
4.4
Spanish Mission
- 6h Noble Mission (GB) x Limonar (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Balding Rdr: Craig Williams 57
4
4.6
Floating Artist
- 6g Nathaniel (IRE) x Miss Kenton (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Teodore Nugent 50
5
10.6
The Chosen One
- 6h Savabeel (AUS) x The Glitzy One (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: Damian Lane 54
6
12.6
Grand Promenade
- 6g Champs Elysees (GB) x Zacchera (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: K Mc Evoy 52
7
13.3
Delphi
- 5h Galileo (IRE) x Bye Bye Birdie (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: D Oliver 53.5
8
13.4
Selino
- 6g Champs Elysees (GB) x Air Kiss (GB) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ron Stewart 53.5
9
16.7
Tralee Rose
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Star Of Tralee (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Dean Holland 51
10
17.2
She's Ideel
- 6m Dundeel (NZ) x Ana's Mail (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: C Newitt 52
11
19.4
Twilight Payment
- 9g Teofilo (IRE) x Dream On Buddy (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: Joseph O'Brien Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
12
21.4
Miami Bound
- 5m Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Patrick Moloney 52
13
21.8
Great House
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Anja (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 50
14
21.9
Sir Lucan
- 4h Camelot (GB) x Sparrow (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: G Boss 51
15
23.2
Explosive Jack
- 4h Jakkalberry (IRE) x Extra Explosive (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 54
16
24.2
Master Of Wine
- 7g Maxios (GB) x Magma (GER) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Fred W Kersley 52.5
17
24.6
Pondus
- 6g Sea The Moon (GER) x Diablerette (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Rachel King 52.5
18
25.3
Carif
- 6g So You Think (NZ) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Mc Dougall 52.5
19
25.6
Knights Order
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: D W Stackhouse 53
20
28.9
Persan
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: L Currie 53
21
33.1
Port Guillaume
- 5g Le Havre (IRE) x Keira (FR) (Turtle Bowl (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 52
22
41.1
Johnny Get Angry
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Luminova (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Denis Pagan Rdr: Lachlan King 53
23
53.1
Ocean Billy
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Cool Storm (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damien Thornton 53.5
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