Despite believing that Verry Elleegant’s heavy-track superpowers may not be what they once were, Don Goodwin is heading across the Tasman hoping to see something very special from his champion mare in Saturday’s $4 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Goodwin bred and part-owns the remarkable daughter of Zed, who has earned more than A$14.7 million through a 37-start career that has featured 16 wins including 11 at the elite level.
Saturday brings an eagerly anticipated showdown with the likes of Zaaki, Anamoe, Montefilia and Duais for the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, who was surprisingly defeated in her dress rehearsal on March 19. Sent out as a $1.20 favourite, she had to settle for second in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, beaten by two lengths by Montefilia.
“I think the Rosehill track was a bit against her that day,” Goodwin said. “I don’t think she loves those really heavy tracks any more. James (McDonald, jockey) said she wasn’t all that comfortable in it. She still finished second in a Group One though, and some people would die for that, so we can’t be too unhappy.
“Her Melbourne Cup win was on quite a firm track, and she ran the fifth-fastest time in the history of the race, so I think she might be more at home on better ground these days.”
She will need to master another heavy track this weekend, with Sydney’s relentless rain continuing throughout this week. A total of 156mm has fallen since Wednesday, although Racing NSW has reported that there is no surface water at Randwick and the track is safe for racing.
Goodwin takes heart from trainer Chris Waller’s ability to have horses peaking at the right time – demonstrated last weekend by stablemate Nature Strip, who bounced back from a third placing in the Gr.2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) to brilliantly win the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) for the third year in succession.
“Chris Waller is obviously very good at getting horses to peak on the right day, so we’ll see what happens,” Goodwin said.
“From what we’ve been hearing, everything is fine with her leading into Saturday, and I think she’ll run a very good race.
“I’m delighted that James has decided to stick with her, despite having a couple of others in the race that he regularly rides. It’s certainly a very hot field, but that’s the level she’s used to playing at over there. We’ll just take what comes this weekend. She’s drawn seven of nine, which I’m quite happy with. She should be able to keep out of trouble, and the 2000-metre start at Randwick isn’t a bad one.”
This is the second year in a row that Goodwin and his long-time partner Christina have travelled to Sydney to be on course for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, having taken advantage of the temporary opening of the trans-Tasman bubble to make the same trip 12 months ago.
Despite winning almost every other major weight-for-age prize in Sydney, the Queen Elizabeth is the one that keeps getting away from Verry Elleegant – finishing second in both 2020 and 2021 behind Addeybb.
“We’re looking forward to heading over there this weekend, it’s going to be our first time seeing her in a year,” Goodwin said.
“We were there for the Queen Elizabeth last year as well, where we had to settle for second. Tommy Marquand outrode James McDonald that day, which isn’t something that happens all that often. We’re hoping for a different story this time around.”
Despite being by Zed, a stallion noted for later maturing progeny with longevity, there has been some talk that this could be a final Australian raceday appearance for Verry Elleegant, with retirement one option while a European raid for a tilt at the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) has also been mooted by some.
“We set them for certain races a long way out. At elite racing you need to have them right on the right day. Hopefully on Saturday we will see her go to that next level,” trainer Chris Waller said.
“She has run two good seconds in the Queen Elizabeth in the last couple of years. She has won a Melbourne Cup this season and been so consistent, it would be fitting if she could put a Queen Elizabeth on the trophy cabinet.
“A horse of her calibre is only ever one run away from their last run, so she deserves to be retired when the time is right or travelled perhaps to Europe when the time is right.
“A lot will be dependent on Saturday’s race. I would say that if she didn’t go to Europe there would be another spring left in her, but that is up to the owners to decide and she will tell us when she has had enough.”
