WFA Heavyweights Ready to Rumble

Even though it’s not quite Muhammad Ali and George Foreman facing off in Zaire’s Rumble in the Jungle, the potential stoushes that lie ahead for incumbent WFA title-holder Verry Elleegant (Zed) and challenger Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) are stacking up to be a tantalising proposition. In the lead-up to their possible spring grand finale in Moonee Valley’s Gr1 Cox Plate (2040m), racenet.com.au reports the duo are first a chance to cross swords once or twice. The possible races include the Gr1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick late next month, where they are joint favourites, followed by either the Gr2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at the same track or the VRC’s Gr1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) in early October. Given the latter two races clash, it’s also possible they’ll split ahead of the Cox Plate on 2 October. Likely to be more seasoned than Zaaki – he only returned to the Neesham stable on Monday – Verry Elleegant would possibly have the advantage down the long Flemington straight. If the pugilists dominate the 2021 Cox Plate, and that’s still a big ‘if’ should Europe and Japan’s best middle-distance protagonists turn up, one hopes the victor or victress will show the class of Ali. Following a flurry of blows that left Foreman a sitting duck for the coup de grace, Ali instead allowed his opponent to fall gracefully to the canvas. When asked why, he replied, “He’s had enough.”

Verry Elleegant is still the testing material (pic: Steve Hart)