SPORT A Verry Elleegant victory
THE talented but sometimes fizzy Verry Elleegant has shown a new-found maturity to win the Group One Tancred Stakes at Rosehill.
On the corresponding day a year ago, the Chris Waller
AS A kid, Adam Hyeronimus would watch and marvel as Gai Waterhouse dominated Sydney’s biggest races.
At Rosehill yesterday, the hardworking jockey teamed up with the trainer to land his first Group One win aboard Shout The Bar in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).
The race was billed as a match-up between Funstar and Probabeel, who have finished one-two in the shorter fillies events this autumn.
But after being flushed trained Verry Elleegant won the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and went on to claim the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m).
While some fillies win an Oaks on sheer ability rather than staying prowess, Verry Elleegant demonstrated yeswide early, Funstar finished a battling fourth while Probabeel charged late but could not reel in Shout The Bar.
The filly gave Tulloch Lodge, operated by Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott, its third Group One triumph in as many weeks.
Hyeronimus had a sniff of an elite win a week ago when second aboard Prince Fawaz in the Rosehill Guineas and was thrilled to finally break his duck. “It’s very rewarding, especially to ride it for Gai,” Hyeronimus said. “Growing up as a kid I used to watch the races on Saturday and Gai used to just dominate.
“That’s what I grew up with and to end up being her apprentice and finish my apprenticeship there, and to continue riding on for her and get my first Group One winner is just a huge thrill.” terday she has both as she stamped herself a spring Cups contender.
The mare also demonstrated her fortitude to back up seven days after a fighting second to English horse Addeybb in the Ranvet Stakes.
Racing continues through the coronavirus crisis but with no spectators allowed, leaving Waller as a one-man cheer squad after Verry Elleegant raced away from Mustajeer and last year’s winner Avilius to win by a big margin.
“It might look easy but it has been a big effort for the whole stable to get a horse like her to settle as well as she is doing. She is quite a highly revved horse,” Waller said.
“Full credit to James (McDonald). She is obviously a great horse. We haven’t had her over this distance very often but each time we have she has just been dominant. It is a very special win.”
Waller said the Caulfield Cup (2400m) was a possibility and the Melbourne Cup over 3200m was also a goal. “The Caulfield Cup would be high on our radar and even a Melbourne Cup,” he said.