Auckland based-breeder Don Goodwin will forever be remembered as the breeder of the Champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
The story of ‘Ellie’ as Goodwin affectionately calls the former Chris Waller-trained mare, is one of the great stories of the Australasian turf.
Verry Elleegant was a daughter of the now Grangewilliam Stud-based Zed (NZ). The son of the four-time New Zealand Champion Sire, Zabeel (NZ), has had an interesting career.
Don Goodwin | Image courtesy of the NZ Racing Desk
Goodwin told TDN AusNZ: “I have been a shareholder in Zed since he was about ONE years old. He was favourite for the New Zealand Derby, however, he hurt himself in the Waikato Guineas. We never got to see the best of him, but he most certainly could gallop.”
Retired to stand at Little Avondale Stud at a moddest fee of NZ$500 plus GST was enough encouragement for 131 broodmares to visit the son of Zabeel. As can be the trend in this industry for any horse that produces progeny who require time, their potential can quickly be dismissed for their glitzier counterparts.
Zed (NZ) | Standing at Grangewilliam Stud
Zed fell so out of flavour with thoroughbred breeders, that around 2012/13, he was moved to Erewhon Station in Mid Canterbury. Erewhon Station owner Colin Drummond was on the lookout for a stallion to mate with his Clydesdale mares. Zed, the former NZ$400,000 Karaka yearling purchase, ended up serving five registered Clydesdale mares and five half-draft horses, which were a mix of Clydesdale and other equestrian/sporting breeds.
With eyes opening to the quality of horse Zed could produce, he was quickly returned to a more ‘commercial’ setting and now serving thoroughbred mares at Grangewilliam Stud. To date he has sired 17 stakes winners. Zed will also be represented by one yearling at the prestigious 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The super mare
Easily, the most prominent of Zed's progeny was Verry Elleegant. An 11-time Group 1 winner. A winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Caulfield Cup. A Group 1 winner as a three, four, five and six years old. A Group 1 winner from 1400 metres to 3200 metres. Verry Elleegant was a truly remarkable racehorse. Her achievements worthy for a place in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
As Goodwin describes her “Ellie was a freak.”
“She was enormous for a little breeder like me to be part of a horse that won an Oaks, a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, plus all the other races.”
“She (Verry Elleegant) was enormous for a little breeder like me to be part of a horse that won an Oaks, a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, plus all the other races.” - Don Goodwin
The gratitude and fondness Goodwin has for ‘Ellie’ and the whole family is evident and he is all too eager to talk about the grand mare.
“She honestly was just marvellous. She always had attitude, she was feisty and could be difficult. That is what makes a good one.”
“I am so happy for the love the Australians in particular showed Ellie (Verry Elleegant), I think everybody loved her over there because she had that grittiness and determination, you didn’t want to get in a head-to-head battle with her.”
Where it all started
Goodwin famously purchased the dam of Verry Elleegant from the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock National Broodmare Sale, the mare named Opulence, (NZ) (Danroad), was bought for NZ$14,000. Opulence has proven herself a rare gem, with the mare not only producing the Champion Verry Elleegant, but also her full brother Verry Flash (NZ), a Listed winner who has been Group 3 placed.
“We unfortunately lost Ellie’s mum (Opulence) last year, she was due to head to Savabeel and that progeny would have been sold at Karaka. Her (Opulence) passing away changed things, I had always planned to sell the colt, ‘Zac’ (Lot 281) in Sydney at Easter, but now I will keep the filly she foaled last year.
“Even if somebody offered me a lot of money for her ('22 filly) and really, really wanted her, I don’t think I would sell now I lost her mum (Opulence)."
“Even if somebody offered me a lot of money for her ('22 filly) and really, really wanted her, I don’t think I would sell now I lost her mum (Opulence)." - Don Goodwin
“I call the colt ‘Zac’ (Lot 281) and the little filly ‘Stella’ ('22 filly) after my granddaughter. They were both early enough foals and beautiful types.”
Next Chapter - 'Zac' heads to Inglis Easter
Another chapter in the Verry Elleegant story will be written next Tuesday, April 4 when the Griffin family's Lime Country Thoroughbreds will offer the mares full brother, Lot 281 - the only progeny of Zed in the boutique catalogue.
“I am very excited about Tuesday. We are flying into Sydney on Saturday and will be there for the sale,” Goodwin said.
“He (Lot 281) is a lovely colt, he has a beautiful walk, very similar to Ellie’s (Verry Elleegant) walk. Anybody that is looking for a horse that can compete in a Derby or Cup races should have a look at him.”
Lot 281 - Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The octogenarian confesses he has seen many, many horses throughout his life and while he may sound bias the colt is as nice a horse as he has bred.
“Zac (Lot 281) was a little bit of hard work early on. He has attitude, he’s not dirty or nasty though.
“We sent him over to Australia and Lime Country around December. Jo (Griffin) likes him, she has spent a bit of time with him and has gotten to know him. She tells me he has had a fair bit of interest, so I am hopeful,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin is hopeful the next chapter of this story will be just as good as the last. While his Champion ‘Ellie’ has scanned in-foal to the Champion racehorse and very good stallion Sea The Stars (Ire), he is very excited to see her little brother ‘Zac’ head through the ring.
Sea The Stars (Ire) | Standing at Aga Khan Studs
“It would be nice and fitting if Chris Waller was interested in him. I deeply would love to see him stay in Australia or New Zealand. All you can do is hope, you never know in an auction.”
Looking towards the future
Goodwin also looks forward to ‘Stella’, the last of the line, who he says even if she shows half the ability of her sister, she’ll be alright.
“I like to remember and reflect on all the good times with ‘Ellie’, there was so many. I can’t wait to see what the next two can achieve and I plan to stick around and find out.”
