A fifth win at the highest level for Verry Elleegant who got home in a slowly run Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
forced race wide in a slowly run race to the home turn where she pressed forward to edge stablemates Toffee Tongue (Tavistock) and Finche (Frankel) in a driving finish, the first 12 home covered by less than three lengths.
Verry Elleegant is one of two Gr.1 winners for Zed (Zabeel), who only raced four times, winning his maiden over 1600m before injury halted his career.
Zed, who has 12 stakes winners from 249 runners, is 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 Gr1 winner Danewin (Danehill) and Gr3 winner Commands (Danehill), both Gr1 sires while Eight Carat left no less than five Gr1 winners.
Further back and Verry Elleegant traces to Mumtaz Mahal.