Two of master horseman Chris Waller‘s Group 1 winning mares are tipped to fight out the finish in this afternoon’s Group 1 $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) without a challenge from one-time danger Ceolwulf who has been withdrawn due to an abrasion on his off-hind.

The Joseph Pride trained Ceolwulf was one of the key single-figure fancies in betting on today’s 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes field but was withdrawn on race morning by the stable.

Pride confirmed the Kiwi-bred Tavistock four-year-old, winner of the Group 1 Epsom Handicap – King Charles III Stakes double over the Randwick mile last campaign, had sustained a minor abrasion on his shin after he kicked out in his stall a few days ago.

Ceolwulf raced fresh running a game fourth only 1.45 lengths off Fangirl in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) last time out and was out to turn the tables on the mare in the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

Pride however said he was not 100% happy with the horse’s recovery over the past couple of days and opted to put the galloper’s best interests first saving him for a later second-up target.

“I was hoping he was going to be okay, it still looks good, there’s no swelling there but I’d say he’s got a bit of bruising because he’s just not moving 100 per cent right,” Pride said on Saturday morning according to Racenet.

Without Ceolwulf in the mix, Waller looks as sure a thing as racing can get to secure his incredible 11th win in the former Chipping Norton Stakes event.

He saddles-up four of the remaining eight in the field including his Ladbrokes Cox Plate winner Via Sistina who is odds-on and firming now at $1.70 in the latest Verry Elleegant Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to improve on her third as the beaten favourite in the Apollo.

She gets J-Mac back in the saddle now and is expected to improve and return to Group 1 winning form ahead of the autumn majors.

Her Apollo Stakes winning stablemate Fangirl was outstanding in her Group 2 upset last time out at start number 30.

The six-year-old daughter of Sebring is at $2.90 in Verry Elleegant Stakes betting to beat her better fancied stablemate home again at her pet track today with Fangirl boasting a very strong Randwick record (19:7-3-3).

Waller also has Apollo Stakes runner-up Lindermann ($9.50) and the rails-drawn Land Legend ($41) who races for the first time since his Group 1 Melbourne Cup eighth in the starting line-up.

The 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 4:35pm (AEDT).

The feature race in Melbourne today also suffered a blow with Angel Capital withdrawn from Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Guineas field. Click here for the full story.

IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE BUYING INSTEAD.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.