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She doesn’t have the aura of invincibility of a Winx but Verry Elleegant’s never say die attitude is what trainer Chris Waller says can win her a Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Waller was reflecting on the five-year-old's growth since joining his stable, just over two years ago, following a gallop at a Winx-like press conference at Rosehill just after dawn on Thursday and he marvels at what she's achieved.
Verry Elleegant, who weighs in at around the 455kg mark, chases her ninth career Group 1 – and the biggest of them all – in the Queen Elizabeth, having already bagged five this season, and Chris Waller said she'll walk onto the track as good as human hands can have her and at the peak of her powers.
"She's had a faultless preparation in my eyes and it's good to be going into this race in winning form,'' Waller said.
"She's an amazing horse and because she's been racing over so many seasons we've certainly got a soft spot for her and she is creating her own following.
"Those fighting qualities she showed a few starts ago over a mile at Randwick (in the Chipping Norton), how she fought and lifted when supposedly beaten and then last start to turn the tables on Addeybb, she's got a lot of recognition for.
"It's no surprise that she's continued to get better as she's matured because she was always a lightly framed filly.
"As she's become a mare and a more mature horse she's really strengthened up, she has a bigger frame and that's given her that power, and she's racing so consistently."
With her Ranvet Stakes victory over her UK rival Addeybb from Rosehill on March 27, and a drying track, Verry Elleegant assumed favouritism at $2.60 with TAB (on Thursday) and Waller said this year her program has been tailored around the Queen Elizabeth.
Addeybb had the better of the mare in 2020 in the Ranvet then held a three length margin as he raced away with the Queen Elizabeth but this year Waller said there was no need to scramble away in defeat as they did 12 months ago.
"Last year Verry Elleegant was beaten in Ranvet and we thought we'd better pick up some prizemoney and another Group 1 so she went to the Tancred stakes and duly won that. Then to come back to run at 2000m wasn't ideal," he said.
"I thought keeping a bit of speed in her would be the key so we're going into the Longines Queen Elizabeth with three weeks between runs.
"Her previous run was four weeks between runs, and that is close to perfect for her. When you have a horse of Verry Elleegant's ability you know once you've got them right you don't need to change too much."
Waller is chasing his sixth win in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Of course Winx retired in 2019 having won three straight, he won his first in 2011 with My Kingdom Of Fife and prepared Reliable Man to win in 2013.
All the talk about the race being a tactical battle, and conjecture over who is better suited on wet or dry tracks, is brushed away by the 10-time premier trainer.
He's reached a point where he can talk confidently about Verry Elleegant without the pressure of expectation that came with Winx's winning streak.
"Fortunately we have a good draw, I was more concerned last start when she had barrier one,'' he said.
"She's just a changed horse in my eyes, she's adaptable and settling well and I'd expect there would be a fairly good speed on.
"As we saw last start she's got a great turn of foot yet she has got staying powers as well.
"Whether they go fast or slow I think we have the right horse to adapt to the conditions of the race.
"On a good track she's run very quick times and won Group 1 races on those surfaces and very wet tracks she's won on also. It certainly won't worry Verry Elleegant and I'm sure there will be others more concerned about it than us."
