Trainer Chris Waller is keen to kick off the Spring Cups campaign of his class mare Verry Elleegant who looks in tip top shape ahead of her first-up run in Saturday week’s Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m).
Verry Elleegant kicks off her spring in the 2020 Winx Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
The opening Group 1 race of the new season, named in honour of Waller’s four-time Cox Plate hero, the Winx Stakes 2020 will host the spring return of the stable’s Zed five-year-old Verry Elleegant.
The $3.1 million earner chases her first win since the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill back in late March and she was last seen crossing second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Sure to be better over further as her campaign progresses, Verry Elleegant is still being kept safe in all-in Winx Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
She occupies the second line of futures markets at $6, trailing only her Flight Stakes winning stablemate Funstar.
Waller chases his sixth success in the event, formerly run as the Group 2 Warwick Stakes, having taken it out with Metal Bender (2010), Royal Descent (2015) and triple champion Winx (2016-18).
“I think she will get conditions to suit her in the Winx Stakes because I think we are in a great position,” the master trainer told Racenet this week.
“There is lots of grass on the tracks. We are getting a bit of criticism for the wet tracks but if you look at them when you go for a walk or run on them, they actually have a lot of grass.
“I think we will bounce out of it.
“It will be at least two weeks before the soil dries so that will be good for her to start off in because I think on a good track she is not quite as sharp over 1400m.”
Already impressed with the progress of his 2019 ATC Oaks winner Verry Elleegant, Waller confirmed the stable were keen to set her for both the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 and Group 1 $7.75 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday November 3.
Last spring the mare won Randwick’s Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) before contesting the Group 1 $5 million Cox Plate (2040m), making 2020 her first time targeting the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup races.
She is the $12 third favourite in latest Caulfield Cup 2020 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and currently pays $26 to take out the world’s richest handicap should Verry Elleegant be stretched out to the two miles of the Melbourne Cup in 2020.
After an official trial at Rosehill on August 4 running fourth on a Heavy (8) over 1000m, Verry Elleegant may also be on show ahead of her first-up run with Waller considering an exhibition gallop at Randwick between races on the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes Day program.
“She is good and has come through her trial very well,” Waller said.
“We will probably try and give her an exhibition gallop on Saturday if the tracks are okay.
“I would say she would be best on her own for the gallop. I like to give a week just in case they get sore or a temperature or something like that.
“She is well ahead of schedule and I am looking forward to having her back.”
Click here for the current Winx Stakes 2020 pre-nomination odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au, while the 2020 Melbourne Cup all-in markets are available here.
