The Australian Horse of the Year in 2020/2021, $14million earner Verry Elleegant has died in Europe as a result of complications during the birth of her first foal with her former trainer Chris Waller issuing a statement on behalf of her devastated ownership group.
Verry Elleegant had an unsuccessful four start campaign in France at the end of her illustrious career in Australia with her owners electing to keep her in Europe to begin her stud career with a covering to champion sire Sea the Stars, the Aga Khan Studs based half-brother to Galileo.
The foal also died.
Verry Ellegant came to Australia as a tried horse from New Zealand and was initially trained by Darren Weir before joining the stable of Chris Waller. She won 16 races, 11 of them at Group I level including the 2021 Melbourne Cup and 2020 Caulfield Cup with her early victories coming in the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks.
It’s not the first time an Australian Horse of the Year has died while foaling for the first time with the Peter Moody trained Typhoon Tracy lost in similar tragic circumstances in 2012 with her colt by Street Cry (IRE) surviving.
