Twelve months back Verry Elleegant earned a maiden Group 1 win in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill and she returned to the scene of her triumph to claim the Group 1 ATC Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill and what a win it was.
In between times the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Zed added the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and she was coming off a pair of Group 1 seconds in the Chipping Norton Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.
In a solidly run race, Verry Elleegant was back in the field in the early stages but had moved in to a challenging position coming around the home turn.
When balanced up by James McDonald, Verry Elleegant put the race to bed in a matter of strides, careering away to defeat Mustajeer (GB) (Medicean) by four and a quarter lengths with Avilius (GB) (Pivotal) a short-half-head back in third.
McDonald said he is in no doubt that Verry Elleegant is a better horse this year than last.
“Shye was a star today. I thought I might have been outside the leader but she is so adaptable and has grown as mare. What I felt today was extraordinary,” McDonald said.
Waller said the $4million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Day Two of the Championships at Randwick on April 11 was still under consideration for the 4yo mare.
“She was here last year winning an Oaks and a Vinery. She has been everywhere, but she is still getting better. She is only four and racing against the older horses basically. She is just a genuine athlete at a staying trip” Waller said.
“The Caulfield Cup would be high on our radar and even a Melbourne Cup.
“Let’s hope we get weighted as well as some of the other horses from around the world and they keep giving the Australian horses a chance.
“If today’s race wasn’t among the circumstances we were in, I probably would have gone to the Queen Elizabeth. Who knows, it is tough times at the moment.”
Verry Elleegant advances her record to 8 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 19 starts with earnings of $2,749,694.
She is the best of three winners out of the Danroad mare Opulence whose granddam Chalet Girl (Imposing) is a half-sister to Danewin and Commands and comes from the same Eight Carat family of Verry Elleegant's sire Zed.
After missing to Zed in 2016 she has a yearling colt and a colt foal by the son of Zabeel.
She was not covered last season.
