Melbourne star heading for Europe

LAST year’s Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant is set to be campaigned in Europe this summer after being transferred from Australian trainer Chris Waller to Francis-Henri Graffard in France, writes Simon Milham.

The 2020 Caulfield Cup winner has been successful 11 times at the top level and connections of the mare are planning a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this autumn as well as a possible bid for the Fillies & Mares Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot.

However, the decision to move the six-year-old to the Northern Hemisphere at this stage of her career comes as a surprise.

Verry Elleegant’s owners, who include Brae Sokolski and Ozzie

Kheir, said that to campaign in Europe properly, the horse would have to be trained abroad.

A statement, issued yesterday read: “We know she is a world class stayer who needs 2400m+ (a mile-and-a-half-plus) to show her true ability, but we expect her be weighted out of the Cups and as such there are limited options for her domestically.

“After much deliberation we came to the realisation that if we want to campaign her in Europe, we need to do it properly and send her to be prepared in the northern hemisphere.

“As such we wish to advise that Verry Elleegant will be transferred to the care of leading French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and trained out of the world class facilities at Chantilly.

“Although transportation arrangements are still being finalised, she will finish her spell next week and subject to flight availability will fly out anytime from that point forward. Bringing her to Europe early opens up a number of possibilities, one of which is the Arc, however we will just keep an open mind.”