Verry Elleegant steps up spring preparation with Rosehill gallop

In the wintry darkness of early morning Rosehill trackwork, champion mare Verry Elleegant’s training workload is cranking up for her comeback to racing next month.

Trainer Chris Waller told News Corp the nation’s Horse of the Year-elect Verry Elleegant’s gallop on Tuesday morning was her fastest so far this preparation ahead of her spring carnival campaign.

“Verry Elleegant had her strongest gallop (Tuesday morning) for some time,’’ Waller said.

“Another two gallops and then she will be ready to barrier trial either at Warwick Farm on July 23 or Randwick on July 27.’’

Waller, who welcomes super sprinter Nature Strip back to training at his Rosehill stables on Wednesday, confirmed Verry Elleegant is being readied for her return in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwck on August 21.

TAB fixed odds has just released early betting markets on some of Sydney’s spring carnival feature races including:

■ Verry Ellegant installed as Winx Stakes favourite at $2.80 ahead of trainer Annabel Neasham’s boom import Zaaki at $4.50.

■ Mo’unga, winner of the Rosehill Guineas earlier this year and a stablemate of Zaaki, is at the top of betting at $8 for the $1.5m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 2.

■ Duais, Harmony Rose and Hungry Heart are on the second line of Epsom betting at $11 ahead of last year’s winner Probabeel and Doncaster Mile hero Cascadian at $15.

■ Staying sensation Incentivise is the $6 favourite for the $750,000 The Metropolitan, run on Epsom Day.

Verry Elleegant won the Winx Stakes last year. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Verry Elleegant won the Winx Stakes when resuming last spring and trained on to win another four Group 1 races through the season, ensuring she will be crowned Horse of the Year.

After finishing unplaced in the Melbourne Cup last year, Verry Elleegant resumed in the Apollo Stakes over the Randwick 1400m course earlier this year and ran third to Colette.

Waller is convinced Verry Elleegant will still be sharp enough to compete with and potentially beat the top sprinters again in the Winx Stakes next month.

“Verry Elleegant is such a decent horse, so versatile,’’ Waller said of Verry Elleegant.

“A bit of give in the ground takes away the blistering speed of those genuine 1400m horses and a Slow 5 or worse brings her right into those races.’’

Waller said he is looking forward to having Nature Strip back in his stables from Wednesday to prepare the chestnut flying machine for the $15m The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 16.

“Nature Strip has been working along three-quarter pace at pre-training and we will start building him up soon,’’ Waller said.

“I haven’t completely locked in his return race, I need to talk to the owners first but it will be either the Concorde Stakes or The Shorts but there is plenty of time to work out his program.’’

Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m)

Royal Randwick, August 21

$2.80 Verry Elleegant

$4.50 Zaaki

$8 Colette, Mo’unga

$11 Kolding, Probabeel

Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m)

Royal Randwick, October 2

$8 Mo’unga

$11 Duais, Harmony Rose, Hungry Heart

$15 Probabeel, Cascadian

TAB fixed odds

Originally published asVerry Elleegant steps up spring preparation

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