Verry Elleegant answered her critics at Rosehill on Saturday by backing up to win her third Group 1 in an absolute canter with a dominant victory in the 2020 Tancred Stakes results.
After running second in the Ranvet last week, it was a brilliant performance from James McDonald that did the trick as the champion jockey won the Tancred for a third time after saluting aboard Avilius last year.
The win also marked Chris Waller’s second Tancred win after claiming victory with Preferment back in 2016.
“She was here last year running in an Oaks and I think she won the Vinery a year ago. She has been everywhere but she is still getting better. She is only four and racing against the older horses basically. She is just a genuine athlete at a staying trip,” Waller said of the horse.
The four-year-old mare got away fairly from the barriers and settled midfield on the outside of Mustajeer. Danceteria’s move forward at the 1000m mark quickened the pace before McDonald pulled clear over the final furlong to see off Mustajeer and Avilius.
Waller said after the race that he’ll now send Verry Elleegant back for a spell with eyes towards the Spring. The champion trainer did say that he would have liked to target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in a fortnight’s time, but the current climate made things difficult.
“The Caulfield Cup would be high on our radar and even a Melbourne Cup. Let’s hope we get weighted as well as some of the other horses from around the world and they keep giving the Australian horses a chance. She’ll be there and she’ll be one of them,” Waller went on to say.
“If today’s race wasn’t among the circumstances we were in, I probably would have gone to the Queen Elizabeth. Who knows, it is tough times at the moment.”
Mustajeer lost no admirers running a very bold second after racing along the rails, while Avilius did well to make up ground after sitting dead last at the final turn.
Verry Elleegant is now the $10 favourite in pre-nomination betting on the 2020 Caulfield Cup this October through Ladbrokes.com.au – full markets available here.
2020 Tancred Stakes Results
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Barrier | Weight | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | – | 6 | 56.5kg | $2.15F |
2 | 2 | MUSTAJEER (GB) | Kris Lees | Nash Rawiller | 4.3L | 2 | 59kg | $7 |
3 | 1 | AVILIUS (GB) | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 4.4L | 4 | 59kg | $5.50 |
4 | 5 | MIRAGE DANCER (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Tommy Berry | 6.8L | 1 | 59kg | $15 |
5 | 8 | CARIF | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 7.6L | 3 | 58.5kg | $41 |
6 | 6 | MUGATOO (IRE) | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 9.1L | 9 | 59kg | $9.50 |
7 | 7 | ANGEL OF TRUTH | Gwenda Markwell | Glen Boss | 10.4L | 5 | 58.5kg | $21 |
8 | 3 | DANCETERIA (FR) | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 12L | 7 | 59kg | $41 |
9 | 4 | SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Tom Marquand | 19L | 8 | 59kg | $14 |