Written by Lydia Symonds
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Time has officially been called on the career of multiple Group 1-winning Champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and she will now stay in Europe to be covered by a ‘leading European stallion on Northern Hemisphere time’ next year.
The announcement was made by her ownership group via social media on Thursday afternoon, bringing an end to an ultra-impressive career which saw her claim 16 of her 42 career starts, headed by 11 Group 1s, including time-honoured events such as last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup and the G1 Caulfield Cup.
The mare retires the winner of an astonishing $14,885,505 in prizemoney.
Verry Elleegant hit headlines earlier this year when the ownership group made the decision to relocate the mare from Chris Waller’s Rosehill stable to Francis-Henri Graffard’s Chantilly base, with the ultimate goal of running the 7-year-old in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
However, after she failed to fire in her first two starts in France, she did not have a high enough rating to make the field for the Longchamp Group 1 and was instead redirected to the G1 Prix de Royallieu on the same weekend, subsequently finishing a well-beaten seventh.
Verry Elleegant (NZ) winning the G1 Chipping Norton S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Verry Elleegant’s final career start came at Ascot where she finished a remote ninth in the G1 British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ S., forcing her connections to make the decision to retire the mare.
“Rest assured though the Verry Elleegant story is far from over and we now look forward to the next chapter in her remarkable story, her life as a mum,” the ownership group said in a statement.
“The plan is to keep her in the pristine fields of France until she can be served by a leading European stallion in Northern Hemisphere time next year.”
“The plan is to keep her in the pristine fields of France until she can be served by a leading European stallion in Northern Hemisphere time next year.” - Verry Elleegant statement
Beginning her career in New Zealand under the care of her former co-owner Nick Bishara, for whom she won twice.
After being bought by Australian interests, the mare was transferred to Darren Weir and instantly announced she was a filly to keep an eye on when taking out the G3 Ethereal S. on her second start in the country.
Following Weir’s ban from training, Verry Elleegant was moved to Sydney-based Waller and won the G2 Phar Lap S. on her second start for her new stable, before tasting her first elite-level win in the G1 Flight S., doubling her tally of Group 1s on her next appearance in the G1 Australian Oaks.
Alongside her wins in the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Caulfield Cup, she can also lay claim to having landed host of other prestigious events in Australian calendar, including the G1 Ranvet S., G1 Chipping Norton S., on two occasions, G1 Tancred S., G1 George Main S., G1 Turnbull S. and the G1 Winx S.
Watch: Verry Elleegant (NZ) winning the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup
While her record speaks for itself, the ownership group said that her CV won’t be the defining part of her legacy, but rather the hordes of fans she acquired over the years.
“Verry Elleegant's lasting legacy won't be measured by her prizemoney or Group 1 tally but more so by the joy and happiness she brought her legion of fans and her indomitable will to win that inspired us all,” the owners said.
“Along the journey, there were so many individuals that played a massive role in her success, but we would like to particularly thank the Chris Waller and his entire team including track rider Chris Harwood and strapper Rocky Mangat, jockey James McDonald and Francis Graffard and his stable for all their efforts in her European campaign.”
