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McDonald verry impressed with Kiwi mare; Zed Em gunning for fourth Von Doussa;

McDonald verry impressed with Kiwi mare

Jockey James McDonald could not have been more impressed with Verry Elleegant 's effort to land her eighth Group One victory in Saturday's Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

The Sydney-based expat Kiwi said the daughter of Zed is in career best form and thinks she will be hard to beat in three week's time when she chases her ninth elite victory in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

"Obviously to come out on top was fantastic," McDonald told RSN's Racing Pulse. "She is a mighty mare and she doesn't know how to lay down. She gives it her all and turns up every time she steps out on a racetrack.

"I was really happy with the way she executed her race, it was the best she has began from the barriers this preparation, she has been very tardy out which puts you on the back foot a bit for the first part of the race."

Verry Elleegant will now look to go one better this year in the Queen Elizabeth on April 17 after finishing runner-up to Addeybb in 2020.

"She is definitely in the form of her life and she can't go much better," McDonald said. "Physically she is a stronger mare, she is going through her runs really well. She'll be hard to beat in a Queen Elizabeth I would have thought.

"It was her third run in and she is probably at the peak of her powers, I wouldn't say she would improve a hell of a lot because she doesn't have to, she is winning now.

"As long as she stays in healthy condition and gets to the Queen Elizabeth in one piece, she will be hard to beat."

Zed Em gunning for fourth Von Doussa

Kiwi jumper Zed Em will be out to land a fourth successive Ecycle Solutions Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) at Oakbank on Wednesday.

The gelding, who flits between New Zealand trainer Kevin Myers and Victorian horseman Patrick Payne, is back in Australia for another jumps season and will be partnered by Kiwi jockey Aaron Kuru on Wednesday, who has relocated across the Tasman to ride for Payne.

Zed Em won the Von Doussa in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but with no Oakbank carnival last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it will be two years since the son of Zed was seen at Oakbank.

Kuru has ridden the top jumper in two steeplechase trials this month.

"He seems to be going well. I don't ride him that much but I rode him in trials at Cranbourne and Warrnambool.

"He is pretty straight forward and gets straight on the bridle and gets through his work pretty well."

Kuru believes he is as fit as he has ever been and is enjoying the change of scenery.

"I have been over around a month now. We start a bit later in the mornings than we did in New Zealand, which just means we finish a bit later in the morning," he said.

"It is a unique set-up with some home-made tracks that Paddy has put together and the horses really seem to thrive in the atmosphere. It is a pretty awesome place to be working."

Kuru admitted to being a bit jaded by New Zealand racing and was looking for a change.

"My partner and I were looking to move over. I had a talk to Dummy (Kevin Myers) last year to see if he could set me up somewhere in Victoria riding, thinking I'd give it another go and he put me on to Paddy," Kuru said.

"I spoke to Paddy once and then next time I spoke to him was when I showed up on the property. I am really enjoying it."