Chief Stipe Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 Verry Elleegant officially retired Ryan Reynolds@Reynolds_R20 October, 2022 Verry Elleegant at Longchamp (Image: Steve Cargill) Champion mare Verry Elleegant has been officially retired and will be served by a yet-to-be-confirmed northern hemisphere sire. The announcement was made by her ownership group on Thursday afternoon, pulling the curtain down on a glittering career which saw her claim 11 Group 1s. Her crowning moment came in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, where she ran the fifth fastest time in the race’s history and destroyed a high-class field with James McDonald on board. Earlier this year, a majority of the ownership group decided to campaign Verry Elleegant in Europe after failing to fully fire during the autumn. She left Chris Waller's stable and joined Francis-Henri Graffard, but she couldn’t hit the heights of her Australian career, finishing down the track in a fillies and mares Group 1 on Sunday morning. Related Articles Which stallion for Verry Elleegant? 20 October, 2022 BREEDING That race was always considered to be the final time punters saw her on a race track with owner Ozzie Kheir telling Racing.com on Sunday it was more than likely her last race. That was confirmed on Thursday afternoon following a meeting with the ownership group. “Rest assured though the Verry Elleegant story is far from over and we now look forward to the next chapter in her remarkable story, her life as a mum,” the ownership group said in a statement. “The plan is to keep her in the pristine fields of France until she can be served by a leading European stallion in Northern Hemisphere time next year.” Verry Elleegant finishes her career with the equal 12th most Group 1s in Australia and almost $15m in prizemoney. “Verry Elleegant's lasting legacy won't be measured by her prizemoney or group 1 tally but more so by the joy and happiness she bought her legion of fans and her indomitable will to win that inspired us all,” the owners said. “Along the journey there were so many individuals that played a massive role in her success, but we would like to particularly thank the Chris Waller and his entire team including track rider Chris Harwood and strapper Rocky Mangat, jockey James McDonald and Francis Graffard and his stable for all their efforts in her European campaign.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champion mare Verry Elleegant has been officially retired and will be served by a yet-to-be-confirmed northern hemisphere sire. The announcement was made by her ownership group on Thursday afternoon, pulling the curtain down on a glittering career which saw her claim 11 Group 1s. Her crowning moment came in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, where she ran the fifth fastest time in the race’s history and destroyed a high-class field with James McDonald on board. Earlier this year, a majority of the ownership group decided to campaign Verry Elleegant in Europe after failing to fully fire during the autumn. She left Chris Waller's stable and joined Francis-Henri Graffard, but she couldn’t hit the heights of her Australian career, finishing down the track in a fillies and mares Group 1 on Sunday morning. Related Articles Which stallion for Verry Elleegant? 20 October, 2022 BREEDING That race was always considered to be the final time punters saw her on a race track with owner Ozzie Kheir telling Racing.com on Sunday it was more than likely her last race. That was confirmed on Thursday afternoon following a meeting with the ownership group. “Rest assured though the Verry Elleegant story is far from over and we now look forward to the next chapter in her remarkable story, her life as a mum,” the ownership group said in a statement. “The plan is to keep her in the pristine fields of France until she can be served by a leading European stallion in Northern Hemisphere time next year.” Verry Elleegant finishes her career with the equal 12th most Group 1s in Australia and almost $15m in prizemoney. “Verry Elleegant's lasting legacy won't be measured by her prizemoney or group 1 tally but more so by the joy and happiness she bought her legion of fans and her indomitable will to win that inspired us all,” the owners said. “Along the journey there were so many individuals that played a massive role in her success, but we would like to particularly thank the Chris Waller and his entire team including track rider Chris Harwood and strapper Rocky Mangat, jockey James McDonald and Francis Graffard and his stable for all their efforts in her European campaign.”
Chief Stipe Posted October 20, 2022 Author Share Posted October 20, 2022 Which stallion for Verry Elleegant? James Tzaferis@Jtzaf20 October, 2022 Verry Elleegant at Ascot (Image: Steven Cargill) Decision time is looming for connections of Verry Elleegant, who must choose what their next move is with the champion mare. With her racing career all but over after a series in inglorious runs in Europe, the only decision to make is whether she remains in the Northern Hemisphere to be served by a stallion when the breeding season commences in January, or whether she returns to Australasia to visit a local stallion before the season ends in December. James Tzaferis takes a quick look at some of the stallions who could be in the mix to cover the 11-time Group 1 winner. International Stallions Frankel - It is hard to imagine connections of Verry Elleegant not giving strong consideration to a mating with the horse many believe is the best to ever grace the turf and whose record in the breeding barn is equally as impressive. From his base at Juddmonte in Newmarket, the son of the great Galileo sires G1 winners for fun, including nine individual elite-level winners in 2022. This year alone, he's sired Arc winner Alpinista, Irish Derby champ Westover, French Oaks heroine Nashwa and Royal Ascot winner Inspiral, among others. Frankel's progeny are extremely versatile - who would argue such a mating couldn't produce a Melbourne Cup winner? Baaeed - Will connections consider a first-season sire for Verry Elleegant's maiden cover? If so, then surely they'd look no further than Baaeed, who bowed out of racing in a similar manner to the mare with an underwhelming performance on Champions Day. Like Verry Elleegant, his final racetrack appearance wasn't a true indication of his ability, which saw him win his first 10 races, including six at G1 level. Baaeed is the best-performed son of Sea The Stars, who is a champion sire in his own right. The Green Desert sireline has worked particularly well Down Under via the deeds of champion sire I Am Invincible. Epiphaneia - Many of Australasia's best G1-winning mares of recent times have been sold to Japan to begin their breeding careers and while connections of Verry Elleegant are unlikely to sell, they could yet consider a Japanese stallion. Epiphaneia, who stands as part of a massive roster at Shadai Stallion Station, could be an option if they do. On the track, he was a star with wins in the G1 Japanese St Leger and the Japan Cup. As a stallion, he's quickly making a name for himself as one of the country's hottest young sires and can lay claim to 2021 JRS Horse of the Year Efforia and G1 winner Daring Tact. Australasian Stallions So You Think - Coolmore's pin-up boy seems one of the logical options if Verry Elleegant returns to Australia to be mated. Like Verry Elleegant herself, his progeny are extremely versatile and have won G1 races from 1400m to 3200m. The So You Think - Zabeel cross is a ripper too, with 22 winners and four Stakes winners from 29 runners including G1 winners Think It Over and Nimalee. Shamus Award - Surely Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award would also be a part of the conversation if Verry Elleegant returns to Australia? The son of Snitzel has come of age with five individual G1 winners since 2019 and has proven his ability to sire classic winners and Cup winners in a similar mould to Verry Elleegant, with Duais, El Patroness and Incentivise headlining his growing CV. Almanzor - Will connections choose to take Verry Elleegant back to New Zealand to start her career at stud? If so, Cambridge Stud's shuttler Almanzor could be the right option for her. A three-time G1 winner over middle distances as a three-year-old, he's made an impressive start to life at stud in New Zealand and sired this year's Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic. His oldest NZ-bred progeny have just turned three and he's free of any Danehill and Zabeel influence as well, so there's plenty of upside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decision time is looming for connections of Verry Elleegant, who must choose what their next move is with the champion mare. With her racing career all but over after a series in inglorious runs in Europe, the only decision to make is whether she remains in the Northern Hemisphere to be served by a stallion when the breeding season commences in January, or whether she returns to Australasia to visit a local stallion before the season ends in December. James Tzaferis takes a quick look at some of the stallions who could be in the mix to cover the 11-time Group 1 winner. International Stallions Frankel - It is hard to imagine connections of Verry Elleegant not giving strong consideration to a mating with the horse many believe is the best to ever grace the turf and whose record in the breeding barn is equally as impressive. From his base at Juddmonte in Newmarket, the son of the great Galileo sires G1 winners for fun, including nine individual elite-level winners in 2022. This year alone, he's sired Arc winner Alpinista, Irish Derby champ Westover, French Oaks heroine Nashwa and Royal Ascot winner Inspiral, among others. Frankel's progeny are extremely versatile - who would argue such a mating couldn't produce a Melbourne Cup winner? Baaeed - Will connections consider a first-season sire for Verry Elleegant's maiden cover? If so, then surely they'd look no further than Baaeed, who bowed out of racing in a similar manner to the mare with an underwhelming performance on Champions Day. Like Verry Elleegant, his final racetrack appearance wasn't a true indication of his ability, which saw him win his first 10 races, including six at G1 level. Baaeed is the best-performed son of Sea The Stars, who is a champion sire in his own right. The Green Desert sireline has worked particularly well Down Under via the deeds of champion sire I Am Invincible. Epiphaneia - Many of Australasia's best G1-winning mares of recent times have been sold to Japan to begin their breeding careers and while connections of Verry Elleegant are unlikely to sell, they could yet consider a Japanese stallion. Epiphaneia, who stands as part of a massive roster at Shadai Stallion Station, could be an option if they do. On the track, he was a star with wins in the G1 Japanese St Leger and the Japan Cup. As a stallion, he's quickly making a name for himself as one of the country's hottest young sires and can lay claim to 2021 JRS Horse of the Year Efforia and G1 winner Daring Tact. Australasian Stallions So You Think - Coolmore's pin-up boy seems one of the logical options if Verry Elleegant returns to Australia to be mated. Like Verry Elleegant herself, his progeny are extremely versatile and have won G1 races from 1400m to 3200m. The So You Think - Zabeel cross is a ripper too, with 22 winners and four Stakes winners from 29 runners including G1 winners Think It Over and Nimalee. Shamus Award - Surely Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award would also be a part of the conversation if Verry Elleegant returns to Australia? The son of Snitzel has come of age with five individual G1 winners since 2019 and has proven his ability to sire classic winners and Cup winners in a similar mould to Verry Elleegant, with Duais, El Patroness and Incentivise headlining his growing CV. Almanzor - Will connections choose to take Verry Elleegant back to New Zealand to start her career at stud? If so, Cambridge Stud's shuttler Almanzor could be the right option for her. A three-time G1 winner over middle distances as a three-year-old, he's made an impressive start to life at stud in New Zealand and sired this year's Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic. His oldest NZ-bred progeny have just turned three and he's free of any Danehill and Zabeel influence as well, so there's plenty of upside.
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