Waller leaning towards Cox Plate with Verry Elleegant

[Wandering Eyes]

If Chris Waller gets his way, multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) will remain in Australia this year.

A number of her ownership group are keen to head to Europe to contest the Gr.1 Prix de ‘Arc de Triomphe (2400m), but Waller believes putting those plans on ice until next year may be a better option.

“I know there is still a strong push from some of the owners at least to be able to get her over there (Europe) but I think the biggest challenge is what we have to sacrifice if she goes,” Waller told Racing.com.

“I would love to see her race there but maybe this year could be a bit quick with COVID restrictions because it would be nice to be able to go and see her and go and train her.

“Hopefully that might make everybody’s decision a bit easier.”

The leading Sydney trainer said he will meet with her owners to discuss her future plans, but he is leaning towards domestic targets, highlighted by a tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), a race he won on four occasions with Winx.

“It’ll all be discussed shortly,” he said.

“I’d love to win a Cox Plate with her, I think she’s close to Australia’s best weight-for-age horse, if not the best.

“If the trainer got his wish, maybe we can go to the Arc next year.”

Verry Elleegant has won two of her four starts this preparation, including the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and placed in her other two starts, including a runner-up effort behind Addeybb in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.

She has now won 13 races, including eight at Group One level, and more than A$8.5 million in prizemoney.

By Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, Verry Elleegant was initially trained in New Zealand by part-owner Nicholas Bishara, for whom she won two of her three starts, and finished second in the other.

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