Chris Waller is poised to continue his remarkable dominance in the race now named in honor of his legendary mare, Verry Elleegant, as Via Sistina heads the field in the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick this Saturday.
Via Sistina is odds-on to return to winning form in the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Formerly the Chipping Norton Stakes, this Group 1 $1 million mile race was renamed to honor the two-time champion, Verry Elleegant, who tragically passed away in 2024.
Waller’s record in this race is nothing short of extraordinary, having trained ten previous winners, including the iconic Winx. He’s aiming for his eleventh victory, fielding a strong contingent led by the Cox Plate champion, Via Sistina. The mare’s recent third-place finish in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, behind stablemates Fangirl and Lindermann, has only fueled anticipation for her performance at the mile.
Via Sistina, with her impressive $8.5 million in career earnings, is now the odds-on favourite at $1.95 in Verry Elleegant Stakes betting at Ladbrokes. Fitter after her first-up run and partnered with James McDonald, she is expected to atone for her Apollo Stakes defeat.
Fangirl, the Apollo Stakes winner, poses a significant threat at $3.10 in the latest Verry Elleegant Stakes odds online. The Sebring mare has a stellar record at Randwick and is looking to complete the Apollo/Verry Elleegant Stakes double, a feat last achieved by Anamoe in 2023. She will be ridden by Jason Collett from barrier five.
Waller’s dominance extends beyond these two favorites, with Lindermann and Land Legend also representing the stable. Lindermann, the Apollo Stakes runner-up, has seen significant market support, while Land Legend, a Group 1 Metropolitan winner, is considered a long shot.
Outside of the Waller contingent, Joe Pride‘s Ceolwulf is the main challenger at $5.50.
The four-year-old, a dual Group 1 winner at Randwick last preparation, resumed with a solid fourth in the Apollo Stakes. He will be ridden by Chad Schofield from the outside barrier.
The 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes promises to be a captivating race, with Waller’s star-studded lineup facing a determined challenge from Ceolwulf. The race will be run as Randwick Race 8 at 4:35pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Field
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28x61211x4 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 9 | 59kg | 115 | ||
| 2 | 6x182x065x | ZARAKEM (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Tim Clark | 3 | 59kg | 114 | ||
| 3 | 41131x051x | FAWKNER PARK (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 2 | 59kg | 111 | ||
| 4 | x75x0451x5 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ashley Morgan | 4 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 5 | 6310x018x2 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 6 | 5x1x06138x | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 7 | 78511136×6 | GOLDEN PATH (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Tommy Berry | 6 | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 8 | 12x15111x3 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 57kg | 124 | ||
| 9 | x12x3163x1 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 5 | 57kg | 118 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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