Verry Ellegant Wins Hill Stakes in a Photo Over Samadoubt

October 5, 2019

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.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up