Verry Elleegant came out on top at the end of a pulsating Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
settled in midfield to the home turn where she pressed forward to challenge around the home turn, striking the front 200m out then holding the challenges of Colette and Avilius in a driving finish with the first five home covered by less than one length.
It is the seventh win at the highest level for Verry Elleegant, the five-year-old now the winner of 12 of her 27 races, placing a further seven times and with earnings of $7.42 million.
Verry Elleegant is one of two Gr.1 winners for Zed (Zabeel), who only raced four times, winning his maiden over 1600m in New Zealand before injury halted his career.
Zed, who has 12 stakes winners from 249 runners, was advertised at $NZ6,000 at Grangewilliam Stud in 2020.
Inbred 3×3 to Danehill (Danzig), Verry Elleegant is a sister to Taumaranui Gold Cup winner Verry Flash and the best winner in the immediate generations of her pedigree with an intriguing pedigree to delight theorists, carrying duplications of influential mares Cotehele House (My Swanee) and Special (Forli).
Verry Elleegant is also 4×4 to Cotehele House, the third-dam of Zed and the fourth dam of Verry Elleegant.
Herself a daughter of Eight Carat (Pieces Of Eight), Cotehele House left five-time Gr.1 winner Danewin (Danehill) and Gr.3 winner Commands (Danehill), both Gr.1 sires while Eight Carat left no less than five Gr.1 winners.
Further back and Verry Elleegant traces to Mumtaz Mahal.