The Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday was the first Group 1 of the season and it will take something special to displace the win of Verry Elleegant for sheer guts and determination.
With James McDonald in the saddle, Verry Elleegant was caught wide the trip. No sooner had the daughter of Zed reached the front in the final 200 metres when she came under attack from her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Star Of The Seas who came with a well-timed run under Sam Clipperton.
The son of Ocean Park took a head advantage before Verry Elleegant rallied to win by a half-head. The Group 1 Cantala stakes winner Fierce Impact (Deep Impact) ran a great race to be a further half-neck back in third however the hard luck story was another Waller runner in Imaging (GB). The son of Oasis Dream was stopped in his tracks at the 300 metres and finished better than anything to be just half a length off the winner in fourth.
“She is an absolute star,” McDonald enthused.
“She has progressed so much in the last six months, it’s just incredible.
“She has to be the toughest mare I’ve had anything to do with.”
For Verry Elleegant it was her fourth win at the elite level following the ATC Australian Oaks, ATC Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Tancred Stakes.
It was the 5yo mares first start since vainly chasing Addeybb (IRE) home in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 11.
It was a sixth win in the race for Waller, which was named after his three-time heroine Winx.
“She has come back very well. She did a lot of work in the run and was still strong late,” Waller said.
“How do we get her to win every start this preparation I don’t know but I want to get her to win the grand finals as well, where that be a Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup. It’s got a good ring to it, but we have the right horse to do it.”
Bred by her part-owner Don Goodwin, Verry Elleegant advances her record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 21 starts with earnings of $3,421,694.
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.
Goodwin had purchased Opulence for just $14,000 at the 2011 NZB National Broodmare Sale
After missing to Zed in 2016 she has a yearling full-brother to Verry Elleegant who was consigned to the 2020 NZB Karaka Book 1 where John Chalmer’s Bloodstock, on behalf of leviathan WA owner Bob Peters, had the final say at $140,000.
Opulence has a yearling colt, again by the son of Zabeel, but she was not covered last season.
