Chief Stipe

Waller has done a great job with her as well. Many trainers would have tried to train her quirks out of her or adjust her style too quickly. He has let her have her own style and over time it has subtly adjusted. Hard to say if that has been age or training! It was good to see she now seems to have a crowd following. Listening to the commentators they said the crowd was roaring and applauding and many come out of the stands. I noticed like a lot of good horses she knows she is a winner and was throwing her head high in the air when JMac was patting her. Sorry if I wax lyrical about VE but I've followed her every race since that watching her maiden win at Ruakaka.

Winx, regarded by many as the greatest of them all, casts a very long shadow but Verry Elleegant is certainly building a race record that is comparable to the great champions of the turf including: #Verry Elleegant scored her 11th career Group 1 win. The only mares to win more majors are Winx (25), Black Caviar (15), Melody Belle (14) and Sunline (13). #She took her career earnings to $14,638,244 which moves her above Makybe Diva ($14,527,110) and into fourth position on the all-time list. #She became the first Melbourne Cup winner to return and win the Chipping Norton Stakes in the same season since Rain Lover in 1968-69. #Waller trained his 10th Chipping Norton Stakes winner in 12 years, equalling the record held by the late Tommy Smith. It’s the measure of her greatness that Verry Elleegant can return from a successful Melbourne Cup campaign and win second-up in a 1600m weight-for-age race. “There are no other words for it but to say she is freakish,’’ Waller said. Verry Elleegant found another gear late to stave off the challenge of outsider She’s Ideel. Picture: Getty Images “I wouldn’t say she bounces through her campaigns, she puts everything into it but she is so tough, so resilient.’’ On that theme, Verry Elleegant’s jockey, James McDonald, also marvels at the mare’s ability to race at a high level season after season. “I just can’t believe every time we turn up for a preparation she just seems to get better and better. I know it’s crazy to say but she literally is,’’ McDonald said. “She just turns up, doesn’t matter what conditions, what distance, she’ll perform really well. It’s hard to believe she won a Group 1 over seven furlongs and two miles but anything beyond 2000m she’s running top three. It takes a very good horse to beat her. “For her to pull out all stops at these kinds of trips is incredible. Obviously the wet track has helped her but she’s a star, she’s an absolute star. I’m so lucky to be a part of it. “I think she should have won a Queen Elizabeth by now if things went right. Hopefully she’s well on track now.” James McDonald was all smiles as he returns to scale aboard Verry Elleegant. Picture: Getty Images Verry Elleegant, a rising seven-year-old mare, could be having her final Australian race campaign with talk of taking her to France for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later this year. But Waller’s more immediate focus is the Sydney autumn carnival with Verry Elleegant set to race next in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 before the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) back at Royal Randwick on April 9. “That has always been the plan,’’ Waller said. “Obviously the All-Star Mile was there and that might have been back on the cards had they not run today and that’s how things can change. “But it was always the plan to go to the Ranvet, and then the Queen Elizabeth so three weeks-three weeks, it just works out perfectly.”

Every point - that's what makes the sport interesting. I doubt there has been a mare as competitive and as versatile as this. She seems to be getting better as well. Yesterday she pinged out of the gates and was handy. JMac rode her a peach - got her back under him without her fighting him, eased her along the rails, then eased her off the rails to be ready to pounce down the outside. Or at WFA and Handicap and sex/age group. Or so many different tracks. Or win their maiden at Ruakaka. All but 2 of her 36 starts have been in Group races - 31 of those in Grp 1 (24) or Grp 2 (7) races.

She's back! From a Group 1 win in one of the toughest 3200m races the Melbourne Cup on a Good 1 track to today winning the Chipping Norton on a very Heavy 10 track over 1600m. Takes a very special Champion to do that. Her condition looked even better than last season.

Not wishing to take this Thread off piste but Verry Elleegant must rank as one of the all time greats. Eleven Group 1 wins from 1400m to 3200m.

As did Williamson's horse run unplaced. So you are saying hand up, then go and attack again and end up parked in another speed battle. Do you think Williamson should be charged for whipping his horse 10 times in the first 800m?

You assume I or anyone else cares. Suggest you go back to your Mr Ed reruns.

About sums up the level of your education.

It is obvious you don't know one end of a horse from another so who cares what you think is or isn't relevant. Still banging those woke drums? BTW if I did have an "elitist, entitled mindset" you wouldn't be allowed to post your crap on BOAY.

I'm just trying to remember the last time you actually posted anything original, new or of interest?...... Mmmmmm never.

In the old days Tim would have said "Brad I'm not handing up!"

I disagree. Williamson whipped Mabalene TEN times in the first run to the winning post. Surely that must result in a charge? In that the horse couldn't maintain or improve its position when whipped. Tim barely moved on his horse. Brad had a brain fade. Over 1700m what was wrong with sitting parked for a lap?

It was only 1700m not 2400m. So why hand up if you are in the lead? There was heaps of room for Williamson to pull back and get the trail - why keep pressing on?

The point I was making @Gammalite was that @the galah didn't actually say what he thought was wrong. I don't believe Tim was the culprit. Williamson used up his whip allocation well before the home straight trying to get the lead. Did Tim actually touch his horse with the whip? I would have thought under the rules Williamson will be charged at least with excessive whip use.

Race 7 VET SOUTH EQUINE SOUTHERN BELLE SPEED SERIES MOBILE PACE Show Video BOOTIES DELIGHT - over raced in the early stages. SHOW ME HEAVEN - withstood a challenge for the lead for a considerable distance through the middle stages. Stewards questioned driver T Williams regarding the tactics he adopted during this part of the race. After considering his explanation, Stewards adjourned the matter to make further enquiries. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. MABALENE - unsuccessfully challenged for the lead for a considerable distance through the middle stages. Stewards questioned driver B Williamson regarding the tactics he adopted during this part of the race. After considering his explanation, Stewards adjourned the matter to make further enquiries. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed an initial high heart rate however the mare recovered well. ART COURAGE - out of position at the start despite the efforts of junior driver S O'Reilly. Placed on the Unruly for future mobile starts.

What exactly in your opinion did they do wrong?

The Judgement in full. 561158050-Yardley-v-Minister-for-Workplace-Relations-and-Safety.pdf

They don't understand sectionals and reading a race. Keep pointing out the inconsistencies - I do know for a fact that they do read what is posted.

I agree with what you are saying. Generally those disgruntled conspiratorial punters can't read form anyway!

Judge Cook just overturned Police and Defence Force mandate. Now half of us can put the brown shirts back in the bottom drawer and the other half can take the 0800 SNITCH line off speed dial. Seriously though NZTR need to move quickly on adjusting their rules on Covid otherwise Derby Day will be off.

With 12,000 cases today it must be inevitable that a meeting will be cancelled soon. Derby Day?

An open mind and good eyesight.