Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) stepped out at Flemington at Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday and trainer Chris Waller is pleased with her build-up to the race that stops the nation.
“Mark Zahra said she was nice and bright and relaxed and he couldn’t have been happier,” Waller said.
It will be the first time the daughter of Zed has raced beyond 2500m, though Waller felt the step up in distance would not trouble her.
“The unknown is the two miles but it only looks a positive for her,” he said. “She has won an Oaks, a Tancred and now a Caulfield Cup so three 2400m tests and she has won them all pretty well.
“I see no reason why the two miles isn’t going to help her and she could improve but obviously taking on an international line-up, you have to respect what you are racing against.”
Meanwhile, Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) will be spelled after his unplaced run in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday.
“He had a low-grade bleed from his lungs,” Waller said. “What it would suggest is that his lungs would need a bit of a break, we will give him a good spell and monitor it closely when he comes back and push on in the Autumn.
“The vets are confident he will be fine, it is quite a common thing in horses.”
