Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) showed she can win Group Ones in the wet and in dry conditions after overcoming a class field to deliver her champion trainer Chris Waller the trifecta in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Verry Elleegant, who started the $5 favourite, moved into favourtism for the Caulfield Cup and shortened further for the Melbourne Cup following the victory over her Oaks-winning stablemate Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock), registering her fifth Group One victory in the process.
After a long wait for the photo, another of Waller’s runners, Finche, was adjudged to be third, just ahead of Dalasan (Dalakhani), Master Of Wine (Maxios) and Warning (Declaration of War) – who all finished within a length of the winner.
Given the set-weights-and-penalties conditions of the Turnbull, Verry Elleegant cannot be penalised from the 55kg she is set to carry in both Cups.
Waller’s Melbourne foreman Jo Taylor said the race allowed Verry Elleegant to show her best: “Mark (Zahra) certainly gave her every chance today.
“She wasn’t disgraced last start (George Main Stakes). She probably would have had a lot of knockers but she’s shown that outside of horses, given some room and just allowed to find her feet before she shows her best towards the line.”
Taylor did not miss the game performance of four-year-old mare Toffee Tongue.
“She was absolutely fantastic,” she said. “She was nearly going to upset the whole apple cart there today.
“Again, a fantastic effort from her. Good, honest, good to see her back. We were a touch disappointed in her last start but took it all for what it was and took the fitness benefits, and it certainly paid dividends today.”
Zahra was impressed with his first sit on the mare.
“I had the back of Finche and one got under my neck. I was not so happy out there. It made me come an extra horse wider, but I was outside horses, which she likes, and I had momentum.
“She was strong in the finish because it was a ding-dong battle up the straight. She was going to be beaten but she was too tough.”
Michael Dee was thrilled with Toffee Tongue’s toughness after coming home hard on the inside.
“It was a great effort. We had all the favours from a good draw and did have to go around a horse, but it was a good, tough effort,” he said.
Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) got a long way back and had trouble gaining a run before finishing on strongly for a midfield finish, pleasing rider Craig Williams with a view to the future. “I was happy. Jumping from barrier one he got away well after I had to settle him a bit in the barriers. I followed Master Of Wine and didn’t get a lot of room. He went well enough and he’ll take a lot out of that. He’ll be looking better next time, too,” Williams said.
