Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) will take her place in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) with connections of the champion mare committing to paying the late entry fee for her to run at Longchamp.
The decision was announced via Verry Elleegant’s official twitter page on Monday.
Verry Elleegant’s trainer Francis Graffard strongly hinted at the decision when discussing her future with French racing publication Jour de Galop over the weekend.
“We will supplement her for either the Prix de Royallieu or the Arc. In my opinion it will be the Arc because they came to Europe for this,” Graffard said.
The €300,000 Gr.1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu (2800m) for fillies and mares is held at Longchamp on October 1, the day before Europe’s premier race, the €5 million Gr.1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).
Verry Elleegant’s French adventure under Graffard started by finishing last of seven in the €250,000 Gr.1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet (2000m) at Deauville on August 21.
The New Zealand-bred seven-year-old mare then attempted to lead throughout in the €130,000 Gr.2 Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp on September 12, running a fighting third to multiple French stakes winners Iresine and Bubble Gift.
The 11-time Australian Group One winner will become the first Australasian-bred horse to contest the Arc in over a decade.
1995 Victoria Derby winner Nothin’ Leica Dane was the last Australian-bred Arc runner, finishing second last in a field of 18, beaten 25 lengths by Peintre Celebre in 1997.
So You Think was the most recent New Zealand-bred runner in the Arc, finishing fourth beaten 5.75 lengths by Danedream in 2011.
