Waller Bullish on Cox Plate for Elleegant

If Chris Waller gets his wish, multiple Group 1 winner and Horse of the Year-elect Verry Elleegant (Zed) will remain in Australia this year. While, according to NZ Racing Desk, a number of her ownership group are keen to head to Europe to contest the Gr1 Prix de ‘Arc de Triomphe (2400m), 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.” Revealing that the situation will be discussed at a meeting shortly, the leading Sydney trainer suggested he is leaning towards domestic targets, highlighted by a tilt at the Gr1 Cox Plate (2040m), a race he won on four occasions with champion Winx (Street Cry). “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,” commented Waller. Verry Elleegant has won two of her four starts this preparation, including the Gr1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Gr1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and placed in her other two starts, including a runner-up effort behind Addeybb (Pivotal) in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.