First Blood for Verry Elleegant in Ranvet

Star New Zealand-bred mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) drew first blood against imported galloper Addeybb (Pivotal-Bush Cat, by Kingmambo) with the top-class duo renewing their rivalry of 12 months ago in a stirring finish to the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. There was a length between the rivals, with game pacemaker Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom-Scarletini, by Bernardini) – a former Gr1 Australian Derby winner – back in third. Prepared by Chris Waller, Verry Elleegant had come up second best in last year’s Ranvet Stakes behind the William Haggas-trained Addeybb and also chased the British raider home in last year’s Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). But the 5YO daughter of Zed showed she had physically developed over the past 12 months to take the honours on Saturday and set up another mouth-watering clash with Addeybb in this year’s Queen Elizabeth at Randwick in three weeks. Waller said it was unlikely Verry Elleegant would back-up next week in the Gr1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), a race she won last year. Tom Marquand, who partnered Addeybb was delighted with the run. “As we kept saying before if we bump into her at her best it’s going to be tough to beat her. He gave his all. This was always going to be a run up to a bigger day (Queen Elizabeth) and he put his heart and soul into it,” Marquand told NZ Racing Desk. Verry Elleegant is raced by a group of owners that include her former New Zealand trainer Nick Bishara, who prepared her to win two of her first three starts, and breeder Don Goodwin. She advanced her record to thirteen wins and seven placings from 28 starts with earnings approaching $8 million.

Verry Elleegant has won round one against Addeybb (pic: Steve Hart)