Verry Elleegant honoured with race name
Former star mare Verry Elleegant will have a Group 1 race at Randwick renamed in her honour.
The Australian Turf Club has announced the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) will be rebranded as the Verry Elleegant Stakes from this year as a tribute to the 2021 Melbourne Cup winner.
Trained by Chris Waller, Verry Elleegant won the Chipping Norton in successive years in 2021 and 2022 as part of her 11 Group 1 victories.
Eight of her top-level successes were on ATC tracks, prompting the club to pay homage to the grand campaigner, who won a total of 16 races from 40 starts and just shy of $15 million in prizemoney.
Retiring in 2022 after a brief stint in France, Verry Elleegant is due to foal in the coming weeks after being served to northern hemisphere time by Sea The Stars.
Peter McGauran, ATC chairman, said Verry Elleegant was a high-class horse who deserved to be permanently honoured.
“Her versatility across all tracks, distances and right through her entire career saw her win a host of Group One races from 1400 metres to 3200 metres,” McGauran said.
“The ATC is delighted to make this announcement in naming a Group One race in her honour, especially as she continues her remarkable life with the imminent arrival of her first foal.”
The Verry Elleegant Stakes will be run at Randwick on March 2.
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