Written by Paul Vettise
The connections of star mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) have extended their involvement in the multiple top-flight winner’s family with the private purchase of her sibling.
She took her tally of Group 1 titles to half a dozen on Saturday with victory in the Caulfield Cup, for which she has earned a 0.5kg penalty and will carry 55.5kg in the G1 Melbourne Cup, to add further value to her full brother.
“I can reveal that most of the owners in Verry Elleegant have bought her yearling brother out of the paddock at Grangewilliam Stud for an undisclosed amount,” said Nick Bishara, who formerly trained the mare and has remained in the ownership.
Bishara also prepared Verry Elleegant’s half-sister Black Lace (NZ) (Towkay) to win three races and has won seven with older brother Verry Flash (NZ).
“I’ve got a yearling colt by Zed out of Black Lace, making him a three-quarter brother and he’s for sale and she’s in foal to Zed again. I would love to get a filly,” he said.
Verry Elleegant’s dam Opulence (NZ) (Danroad) has also been served again by Zed (NZ), their sixth mating.
Penalty announced
The Chris Waller-trained Verry Elleegant carried 55kg to her defeat of G1 English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Caulfield Cup and a Melbourne Cup penalty was announced on Monday by Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter.
“Saturday’s Caulfield Cup was an outstanding edition of the 2400 metre handicap and it was fought out by two world class horses with Verry Elleegant strong on the line and safely holding Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck,” Carpenter said.
“Verry Elleegant carried the second highest weight for a winning mare in Caulfield Cup history behind Tranquil Star’s 56kg in 1942 and her hard-fought victory was her sixth Group 1 race to underline her elite standing.
“When we took into account her performance on Saturday, the relative weight to those placed behind her and her overall record, we felt that 0.5kg was the appropriate penalty which equates to 1l over 3200 metres. She will now carry 55.5kg in the Melbourne Cup.
“Only one mare has carried more weight to victory in the Melbourne Cup which was Makybe Diva when she carried 58kg to her third win in 2005. She carried 55.5kg when winning her second Melbourne Cup – the task that has now been set for Verry Elleegant.”
Verry Elleegant (NZ) will carry 55.5kg in the G1 Melbourne Cup
Stick with a plan
Bishara said there was no thought about backing the mare up in this Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate with the Flemington feature always on the program.
“You stick with a plan and go with it. She’s a star attraction in the Melbourne Cup,” he said.
“You stick with a plan and go with it. She’s a star attraction in the Melbourne Cup.” – Nick Bishara
“That European horse is world-class and had gone past her, but she doesn’t lie down and is so tough. In three of her four starts this prep she’s picked herself off the deck to win."
Meanwhile, another of Verry Elleegant’s part-owners has also said they are thinking of a European campaign next year revolving around the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“We feel like she’s a world-class horse. Not only with that form behind Addeybb, we all know what he did on the weekend beating Magical very comfortably and she’s one of the best horses in the world,” Brae Sokolski told RSN927.
“But, obviously with Anthony Van Dyck, he’s taken Stradivarius to the sword, he’s an Epsom Derby winner himself and you can’t have more world-class form around you.
“If they throw up a bottomless track like they did this year, she’d be in the race up to her ears. I don’t think it’s being overly ambitious to say she could represent this country in that race this time next year.”
