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Waller leaning towards Cox Plate with Verry Elleegant; Waller leaning towards Cox Plate with Verry Elleegant
Waller leaning towards Cox Plate with Verry Elleegant
If Chris Waller gets his way, multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant will remain in Australia this year.
A number of her ownership group are keen to head to Europe to contest the Gr.1 Prix de 'Arc de Triomphe (2400m), but Waller believes putting those plans on ice until next year may be a better option.
"I know there is still a strong push from some of the owners at least to be able to get her over there (Europe) but I think the biggest challenge is what we have to sacrifice if she goes," Waller told Racing.com.
"I would love to see her race there but maybe this year could be a bit quick with COVID restrictions because it would be nice to be able to go and see her and go and train her.
"Hopefully that might make everybody's decision a bit easier."
The leading Sydney trainer said he will meet with her owners to discuss her future plans, but he is leaning towards domestic targets, highlighted by a tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), a race he won on four occasions with Winx.
"It'll all be discussed shortly," he said.
"I'd love to win a Cox Plate with her, I think she's close to Australia's best weight-for-age horse, if not the best.
"If the trainer got his wish, maybe we can go to the Arc next year."
Verry Elleegant has won two of her four starts this preparation, including the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and placed in her other two starts, including a runner-up effort behind Addeybb in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.
She has now won 13 races, including eight at Group One level, and more than A$8.5 million in prizemoney.
By Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed, Verry Elleegant was initially trained in New Zealand by part-owner Nicholas Bishara, for whom she won two of her three starts, and finished second in the other.
Scott happy to be home
Expat Kiwi horseman Brett Scott is happy to be back home after more than a month in hospital following being kicked in the head by a horse last month.
"I am just trying to get back in the swing of things and get my head working right again. I have been home five days, so I am definitely improving," the Mornington trainer told SENTrack.
Scott said he suffered a brain bleed as a result of the incident, which affected his speech and memory.
"A horse kicked me in the left side of my head and basically knocked me out stone cold," he said.
"I ended up with a few brain issues with a bit of bleeding in the lower part of my brain and that caused a lot of problems. The left side affected my speech and the right side affected my memory.
"It has just been something I have been trying to get back and those first few weeks I was in another place and had no idea what they (doctors) were asking me. Thankfully I am improving, and that is all I can hope for."
Scott is enjoying being back with his family and said his wife Kylie has been able to keep their stable ticking over.
"We have worked together for so long and she knew what she had to do and had the right people around her to help her at the time," Scott said. "She has done a great job and I am glad that she has been able to continue on without me.
"That's what makes me happier too that I am home now, so that we are back together."
While back at home, Scott is still taking it easy and focussing on his recovery.
"The horse handling is all out at the moment, but I am still able to walk around and do as little as possible, and try and get my eyesight and my body working together properly again," he said.
"I have got professionals to help me and I would like to say that one day soon hopefully I will be able to get back on a horse at some stage.
"In myself I feel good, I just get a little bit tired."
An astute horseman and former champion jumps jockey, Scott trains Kiwi galloper Irish Flame whom he won the A$500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) with in spring.
