Australia: Australia’s horse of the year Verry Elleegant is “well prepared, but not wound up” according to trainer Chris Waller, as she approaches her first start of the year in Sydney on Saturday.
The superstar mare embellished an already outstanding CV by winning the Melbourne Cup last year for her eighth top-level victory, which took her career earnings to more than A$14.2 million ($10.2m).
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However, Verry Elleegant resumes in the G2 Apollo Stakes under regular partner James McDonald at Randwick over a 7f trip which Waller believes could prove her undoing, having seen her finish third in the race last year and fourth in 2020.
“She’s come back well second time around but after running two miles I wouldn’t be as confident she is going to win first-up, but she will run well,’’ Waller told RacingNSW. “She’s well prepared but she’s not wound up.
“If she’s got a bit of cut in the ground and good speed on she’ll blow them away over any distance. But if you get a good track, slow tempo, she won’t win over 1,400m.”
Verry Elleegant is one of three Waller representatives in the Apollo, alongside Kolding and Hungry Heart, and the target is to add the Queen Elizabeth Stakes to her big-race haul after being twice denied by British star Addeybb in the G1 highlight at The Championships at Randwick.
She is a $6 equal favourite, with Zaaki and Anamoe with TAB to achieve that goal and Waller said she’s finally developed into a complete racehorse.
“Physically and mentally she’s outstanding, she looks great and matured into a real decent horse in the last 12 months,’’ he said. “She’s probably a touch more relaxed again, which has been her only downfall throughout her career.
“Some of those seconds in Group 1 races probably could have been firsts through her own undoing but she’s pretty foolproof now.
“Second-up over a mile is when she will be starting to hit her straps, third-up Ranvet is the plan.”
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