Verry Elleegant gave champion trainer Chris Waller his first win in the Caulfield Cup with a determined victory in Australia’s most competitive 2400m handicap.
Waller had saddled 20 runners and never managed a placing before today however, Verry Elleegant powered home from midfield to grab the lead 200m out and then hold off the late challenge from Aidan O’Brien’s Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck with The Chosen One third after being in front 200m out.
It is the sixth Gr1 win for Verry Elleegant, the 11th mare to win the Caulfield Cup over the past 50 years and her weight of 55kg the highest any mare has carried to victory in that time.
Waller was at Randwick but said on television the win was full of merit.
“You think of all the negatives when you’ve got good horses around you and I thought that weight, 55 kilos, might not sound a lot to those at home, but I can assure you, Caulfield Cup history would suggest mares with 55 kilos, they don’t win very often,” Waller said.
“That just tells you how good she is.”
Jockey Mark Zahra praised Verry Elleegant’s toughness.
“I wasn’t in a bad spot but the stablemate (Finche) was putting some pressure on me to go to the fence, which she didn’t like, but all I wanted to do was get to the outside and I tried to be a bit cheeky from (barrier) 10 trying getting out there but I didn’t get there so I had wait,” Zahra said.
“I had to give her a razzle up on the turn but, like a say, she was very tough.”
Hugh Bowman said he thought Anthony Van Dyck would win at the top of the straight.
“Great run, superb effort,” Bowman said.
“We had a beautiful run and I got going when it suited me. I thought I had the race at my mercy at the 300 (metres) but all credit to the winner – she’s so tough.”