VERRY ELLEEGANT

[Pegasus 9 524]

Racing.Com.   
Andrew Eddy
 

The dream of running Verry Elleegant in a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has ended but Australia's champion race mare could still finish her remarkable racing career on the international stage.

Trainer Chris Waller confirmed via Twitter on Wednesday that plans to run in the Arc had been shelved but that a 2400-metre Group 1 fillies and mares race on Champions Day at Ascot in mid-October remains a genuine option for the rising seven-year-old mare.

"Whilst running her in the Arc would be a dream come true for all of us, we just felt that it would come around too soon to enable her to have a proper spell and be fully prepared in Australia for this assignment," Waller tweeted.

"However, a trip to Europe later in the spring is still strongly on the cards providing she returns to the form she showed in the spring when dominating the Melbourne Cup.

"The race that we have identified as a prospective target is the 2400-metre G1 fillies and mares race on Champions Day at Ascot (October 15), one of the most prestigious race days in the world and a worthy stage to showcase her talents.

"It is likely that she will have three runs in the spring with the Winx Stakes, Chelsmford, Kingston Town and the Underwood all being considered prior to a decision being made on a Melbourne Cup defense or a trip to Europe."

If she was to go to England, Verry Elleegant would be unlikely to return to Australia to race again, with the mare likely to go to a Northern Hemisphere stallion over the new year.