2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
Betting | Horse Racing Today | News | Race Results | Spring Racing | Winter Racing |The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Cox...
Verry Ellegant Wins Hill Stakes in a Photo Over Samadoubt
It wasn’t pretty, but mighty mare Verry Elleegant dug deep at Randwick on Saturday to pull out a gutsy win in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m).
Jockey James McDonald found himself with plenty of work to do having already ridden three winners on the day. The pair found themselves second-last on the final turn with plenty of ground to make up, setting up a thrilling photo finish between Winx Stakes winner Samadoubt, who led from the barriers.
Chris Waller is now looking ahead to the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup for Hill Stakes winner Verry Elleegant. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
A lucky bob of the head saw Verry Ellegant over the line, but it was a less than convincing display from the race-favourite. The four-year-old mare looked to be in a nice rhythm early on eight lengths off, but the talented Kiwi galloper certainly made punters sweat down the straight.
“She’s been a work in progress, she’s obviously never going to change I don’t think, but she tries hard, she loves wet ground, she ticked a few boxes today and rounded them up nicely,” McDonald said after the race.
Saturday wasn’t the first time Verry Elleegant kept things interesting. Waller has experimented with gear changes since first acquiring the horse from Darren Weir last November, but taking the nose roll off seems to have done the trick after winning back-to-back Group 1 starts earlier in the year.
Waller was bullish when asked where he’d send the horse next, but it seems he still hasn’t made his mind up on the Caulfield Cup or the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
“I think we know where she is at. Just need to work out a race for her. I won’t want to jump in today. It will be the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup,” Waller went on to say.
Second place-getter Samadoubt lost no admirers leading from barrier to box. The speed was well and truly on down the straight, and the six-year-old certainly found something extra with Verry Elleegant challenging on the outside.
Verry Elleegant remains a $17.00 chance in the 2019 Cox Plate odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au and a $26.00 chance in all-in 2019 Caulfield Cup betting.
2019 Hill Stakes Results & Finishing Order
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | – | 8 | 56kg | $2.40F |
| 2 | 1 | SAMADOUBT | Bjorn Baker | Tim Clark | 0.1L | 3 | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 3 | 3 | LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 0.9L | 1 | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 4 | 5 | TALLY | James Cummings | Joshua Parr | 1.9L | 5 | 59kg | $26 |
| 5 | 7 | CARIF | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 3L | 2 | 58kg | $51 |
| 6 | 4 | OUR CENTURY (IRE) | Kim Waugh | Jason Collett | 3.1L | 4 | 59kg | $51 |
| 7 | 8 | YOUNGSTAR | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 3.3L | 7 | 57kg | $10 |
| 8 | 6 | ANGEL OF TRUTH | Gwenda Markwell | Nash Rawiller | 4.8L | 6 | 58kg | $4.20 |
| – | 2 | BEST OF DAYS (GB) | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | – | 0 | – | – |
Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.
