Elleegant Oaks Winner

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 13
The Kiwi breds might have missed in the Australian Derby last week, but they came to the fore in the Group I ATC Australian Oaks on Saturday on the second day of The Championships when Verry Elleegant zoomed to the line to win the 2400 metre staying test with authority.




Now with Chris Waller after beginning her career in New Zealand and then transferring to Darren Weir last spring, Verry Ellegant is now producing the results she has always promised.

Verry Elleegant - image Steve HartTalented, but wayward in the spring, she is now racing as a real professional and after winning the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes last start was sent out favourite for the Australian Oaks.

Partnered by James McDonald, who is building a real affinity with her, Verry Elleegant delivered a career best performance to storm home and beat Scarlet Dream (Sebring) by nearly two lengths with Frankely Awesome (Frankel) a brave third after being forced to take up the lead mid race when the pace slowed.

"She came from Darren Weir in top order and they did a fantastic job to get her to where she was, but my team have also done a fantastic job as they do with all of our horses," said Waller, who has tinkered with her gear electing to remove a nose roll and replace it with ear muffs in a bid to calm the at times fractious filly.

"She was her own worth enemy last spring…. I think she'll have a great spring this year."

Verry Elleegant advances her record to six wins, two seconds and a third from 11 starts with earnings of $1.2million

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.

Opulence has a 2yo colt by Haradasun named Grand Prospect. After missing to Zed in 2016 she had a colt by the son of Zabeel last season before being bred back to him last spring.

Verry Elleegant has some interesting line breeding as her pedigree features a double cross of champion sire Danehill and also influential blue hen Cotehele House.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie Bred Voyage Bubble Goes Back to Back in G1 HK International Mile
Torryburn Stud have bred and sold some great horses, but none better than Deep Field gelding Voyage Bubble, who scored a tenacious victory in the Group I HK International Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday for the second year in a row.
Four G1 HK International Cups in a Row for Romantic Warrior
Irish bred Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior produced a crowd pleasing victory in the Group I HK International Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, capturing this iconic race for a history making fourth time in a row.
Chase scores sentimental win at Otaki
Johnathan Parkes has had many memorable wins throughout his riding career, but his victory aboard Chase at Otaki on Thursday would feature right up there sentimentally.
Latest Zed SW Brings Joy to Breeder
Saturday’s Group III  Winter Cup (1600m) added some black-type lustre to a brief foray into thoroughbred breeding for Carole and Doug Isaacson, who can owe their success to a showjumping win.
French Trained Sea the Stars Stallion Wins G1 HK Vase
The big ones at Sha Tin kicked off on International Day with the Group I HK International Vase (2400m) for the stayers and in a year when the French have been on fire all around the world it was French trained Sea the Stars stallion Sosie that took the prize.
Zoustar 4YO Secures Stradbroke Start
There were three stakes races at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but strangely, the richest race on the card carries no Black Type, but offers something far more valuable as the winner of the $300,000 The Gateway (1400m) earns a golden ticket into the $3million Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap in 2026.
Zed Gelding Wins G3 Metric Mile
Talented winter galloper Herengawe came of age at Awapuni on Saturday when he out-toughed his rivals to score his first win at stakes level when he took out the Group III Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile (1600m).
Star Kiwi Bred Mare Verry Ellegant Ready for Return
Dual Group One winner Verry Elleegant is one of four Chris Waller-trained gallopers nominated for Saturday’s Group I Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, joining stablemates Unforgotten, Youngstar and Kings Will Dream.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 14
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ka Ying Rising Leads Kiwi Bred Domination of G1 HK International Sprint
It was a Kiwi bred first four in the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) on Sunday with raging hot favourite Ka Ying Rising extending his unbeaten sequence to 16 wins as fans and punters expected.