Australian Horse of the Year and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant showed good improvement at her second start for French trainer Francis Henri Graffard when finishing a brave third in the Group II Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp.
The only mare in the field of six, she led this time under Christophe Soumillon and stuck to her guns well to hold third.
The winner Iresine is a five year-old gelding by Manduro that has won 10 of 14 starts and three of his four runs this year so is in good form, albeit this is his biggest win to date.
No decision has been made yet on what comes next for Verry Elleegant with two options on Arc day under consideration.
"Christophe [Soumillon] said she got a bit lost coming down the hill and changed her legs several times. It's her first time at Longchamp, so that's not surprising,” said Graffard.
“We will discuss together what comes next. She is in the Prix de Royallieu and will appreciate the extra distance, but we haven't closed the door to the Arc either."
