Second Melbourne Cup Winner for Grangewilliam Stud

Media Release - Tuesday November 2

Grangewilliam Stud celebrated further success in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when the champion mare Verry Elleegant powered to an outstanding victory at Flemington on Tuesday.

The Waitotara nursery, located about 30km north-west of Wanganui, is operated by Mark Corcoran, who stands trainer Chris Waller’s star six-year-old’s sire Zed.

Zed is the sire of Verry Elleegant

Verry Elleegant continued the Corcoran’s success in the Flemington feature as Mark’s father John bred Doriemus, who in 1995 famously completed the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double.

“It’s huge for us, that’s our second Melbourne Cup winner and third Caulfield Cup winner after Doriemus, Verry Elleegant and Silver Bounty also won one,” Corcoran said. “Good grass breeds good stayers.”

Corcoran and wife Jane hosted a Melbourne Cup Day party at Grangewilliam, although COVID-19 restrictions were in place.

“We were limited to 100 people and we got a result so we’ll be having a big night, there’s a way to go yet,” he said.

Verry Elleegant was foaled and raised at Grangewilliam, but her looks as a youngster belied what was to come.

“If she had gone to the sales as a yearling, no-one would have looked at her to be perfectly honest,” said Corcoran, who dared to dream when another Kiwi connection fell into place.

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“She demolished them. When James McDonald was announced as the rider a tingle went down my spine and I thought it’s all falling into place.”

A son of the Gr.1 Waikato International Stakes (2000m) winner Emerald Dream, Zed was bought out of Cambridge Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $400,000 by bloodstock agent Bruce Perry.

Placed with trainer Murray Baker, Zed won one of his four starts and was a one-time Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite before injury ended his career.

He served his first few seasons at Little Avondale Stud and when the Wairarapa farm had to make room for newcomer Nadeem, there were no takers and Zed was moved on to Erewhon Station, a 35,000-acre beef and sheep property in Southern Canterbury.

The son of Zabeel was there for two years serving Clydesdales and a handful of thoroughbred mares before a few of the Zeds started to make an impression and encouraged Corcoran to strike a deal with Little Avondale to bring him to Grangewilliam.

While Verry Elleegant has emerged as an all-time queen of the Australasian turf, Corcoran is philosophical about what that may mean for Zed.

“It probably won’t do much for him, even though he just keeps leaving winners week after week on all sorts of tracks and over every distance. They might not be the greatest lookers, but they can run,” he said. – 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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