Verry Elleegant Stakes preview & betting tips | March 2, 2024

What	Verry Elleegant Stakes
Where	Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031
When	Saturday, March 2, 2024
Prizemoney	$1,000,000
Distance	1600m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	Weight for age
2023 winner	Anamoe (1) \| T: James Cummings \| J: James McDonald (59kg)
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A quality field of 10 weight-for-age gallopers are set to fight it out in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, with seven of them coming through the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. Fangirl is the one to beat, but is there some value to be found elsewhere?

2024 VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES ODDS

After a sensational win in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, online bookmakers wasted no time installing the Chris Waller-trained Fangirl as a -166.67 favourite for the Verry Elleegant Stakes. She is the only galloper with any early money, with all other contenders drifting in the market. It leaves Just Fine on the second line of betting at +650 as he returns after conquering The Metropolitan (2400m). Think It Over (+750) is the only other galloper in single figures, while the likes of Buckaroo (+900) and Lindermann (+1200) are the leading contenders at double-figure odds.

2024 VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES SPEED MAP

The speed map for this one should be relatively straightforward. Just Fine only knows one way, and barrier two should allow Regan Bayliss to take his time crossing to the rail. Lindermann (5) looks the most likely to sit on his outside. Think It Over should get into the box-seat position from stall three, with Buckaroo likely to utilise gate one to hold a position just in behind the speed. Fangirl has no choice but to drag back from gate 10, which shouldn’t be any issues for the five-year-old based on her first-up romp, while Cascadian (9) and Atishu (7) will be ready towards the rear of the field.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes.

VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES 2024 PREVIEW & FORM

There’s no doubt Fangirl is very hard to beat, hence the short quote, but you simply can’t be with her at this price. Punters should instead take a chance splitting the stake with two other contenders. Fangirl is arguably one of the best two horses in the country right now, so while she must go on top on Saturday, she can go around without our money on.

Just Fine has been strong first-up in the past, and although he has more achievable targets over further later in the campaign, he warrants a throw at the stumps in the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes. He won on debut for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn over 1600m at this track and trip on September 2 and carried that form right through the preparation, culminating in Group 1 glory in The Metropolitan (2400m). He maps to get a relatively uncontested lead on Saturday, and if his rivals allow him to steal some cheap sectionals, Just Fine could add another Group 1 to the resume.

Buckaroo was no match for Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes, but he has the best chance from that form-line to turn the tables. He got too far back first-up and never looked likely to figure; however, the son of Fastnet Rock closed off beautifully, and he now gets the opportunity to sit much closer throughout the journey. He should relish the immediate step up in trip to the 1600m, and with a bit more luck, the double-figure odds about Buckaroo may seem overs at some stage.

Cascadian had a glorified barrier trial in the Apollo Stakes and will be much better this weekend. Tom Marquand takes the reins as he makes his way back to Australia, and despite gate nine being tricky to overcome, Cascadian is worth a shout for each-way players.