Kiwi connections in limelight at Rosehill
SYDNEY: The talented but sometimes fizzy New Zealandbred Verry Elleegant showed a newfound maturity to win the group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
On the corresponding day a year ago, the Chris Wallertrained Verry Elleegant, by Zed out of the Danroad mare Opulence, won the Vinery Stud Stakes and subsequently the ATC Australian Oaks.
On Saturday, Verry Elleegant showed she has both sheer ability and staying prowess as she stamped herself a spring cups contender. She also demonstrated her fortitude to back up seven days after a fighting second in the Ranvet Stakes.
Racing continues through the coronavirus crisis but with no spectators allowed, leaving Waller as a oneman cheer squad after Verry Elleegant raced away from Mustajeer and last year's winner Avilius to win by a big margin.
‘‘It might look like 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 highlyrevved horse,’’ he 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.’’
‘‘She is only 4 and racing against the older horses basically. She is just a genuine athlete at a staying trip.’’
McDonald said the mare had matured.
‘‘Obviously I thought I would probably be outside the lead but she felt better coming from off the speed, to be honest.
‘‘But that’s how adaptable she is and how she has grown as a mare. Hopefully we are only going to reap the rewards now and what she has already done is just a bonus.’’
Another expat Kiwi, Bjorn Baker, is enjoying a stellar season and had a hand in two stakes winners.
Stable standout Positive Peace made it five wins in succession when she won the Emancipation Stakes while Quick Thinker, who remains in the name of his father Murray and training partner Andrew Forsman, entered Bjorn Baker’s care last week, before winning the Tulloch Stakes.
A qualified pharmacist, Baker has an intense interest in the Covid19 pandemic.
‘‘Like all trainers here we are taking the situation deadly seriously and have plenty of measures in place to protect our staff and families,’’ he said.
‘‘There isn’t going to be a shortterm fix to it all so we just have to do our best to try and get through whatever is thrown at us.’’ — AAP/NZ Racing Desk