Cox Plate earmarked for Verry Elleegant

Multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

Multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant will remain in Australia, for now.

Her group of owners had been discussing a possible trip to Europe to contest the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), however, they have elected to stay home and contest the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m).

“It is highly likely we will remain domestic with her and aim at the Cox Plate, but we are just working through that with Chris (Waller, trainer) at the moment,” Part-owner Brae Sokolski told Racing.com.

“The Arc was certainly high on the agenda but the logistics with COVID made it difficult.

“It is not beyond her to attempt it in 12 months’ time as a seven-year-old with COVID hopefully behind us, so we will keep it potentially on the radar.”

Verry Elleegant added a further two Group One victories to her record in autumn, bringing her total elite-level wins to eight.

“I think she has proven herself as the best horse in the country, without question,” Sokolski said.

“It is frightening to think she will only improve as a six-year-old mare.”

Verry Elleegant was initially trained in New Zealand by part-owner Nicholas Bishara for whom she won two of her three starts, and placing in the other.