A win by in-form mare Verry Elleegant in today’s Group 1 $2m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick will give premiership winning trainer Chris Waller his fourth straight win and sixth overall win in the glamour weight for age race on Day Two of The Championships.
Verry Elleegnt, above, is one of the main chances in the 2020 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Champion mare Winx made the Queen Elizabeth Stakes her own with a hat trick of wins over the last three years while Waller also saddled up Reliable Man (2013) and My Kingdom Of Fife (2011) to win the 2000m feature.
Verry Elleegant is one of four runners Waller will have doing battle in the Queen Elizabeth and the mare is on the third line of betting at $6 at Ladbrokes.com.au behind the overseas raiders Addeybb at $3.70 and Danon Premium at $4.
Waller’s other runners are Kolding ($41), Kings Will Dream ($41) and Imaging ($81).
Verry Elleegant came off second best when runner up to Addeybb in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 21 but she was able to find the winner’s stall two weeks ago with a dominant win in the Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
On Day Two of The Championships last year at Randwick, Verry Elleegant was the winner of the Group 1 $1m Australian Oaks but had to play second fiddle to the stable star Winx who was the centre of attention in winning her third Queen Elizabeth Stakes in her final race day appearance.
Waller is giving Verry Elleegant her chance to take centre stage today.
“It is a year on from winning the Oaks very impressively and probably playing number two behind Winx last year, but here she is doing it herself in the Queen Elizabeth,” Waller said.
“She is in great form and her win in the Tancred here at Rosehill was exceptional.”
Waller said that he has kept Verry Elleegant on the fresh side to help her adjust to coming back to the 2000m of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“Coming back to 2000m, we have just kept her nice and fresh and with rain about, it will certainly enhance her chances,” Waller said
Verry Elleegant has drawn barrier two in the twelve horse field with Nash Rawiller taking over the reins from James McDonald who will b riding the Japanese invader and second favourite Danon Premium.
