Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant in shock France switch

2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant has featured in a shock stable switch to meet the overseas ambitions of the champion’s high-profile ownership group.

One of the most decorated racehorses in Australian racing, Verry Elleegant will transfer from the conquering stable of Chris Waller to the stable of Chantilly of famous French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

Travel plans for the winner of nearly $15 million in prize money will be finalized once she finishes spelling after a fall campaign that ended on a flat note when she didn’t was placed in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.

Verry Elleegant is expected to aim for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the world’s iconic thoroughbred races.

Verry Elleegant is raced in a partnership that includes well-known Australian owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir.

In a statement released by Waller, the owning group said that for Verry Elleegant to race against the best stayers in the world, the mare would need to be trained overseas.

“After much deliberation, we have realized that if we want to campaign her in Europe, we have to do it right and send her to be trained and prepared in the northern hemisphere,” their statement read.

“However, we will just keep an open mind on his program until he furthers his preparation with Francis.”

“We are incredibly excited about the trip ahead and how it will be presented on the world stage. We know it will win, lose or draw us, Australia and of course New Zealand proud.”

Waller coached Verry Elleegant to win 11 Group 1 races, including the 2020 Caulfield Cup and last year’s Melbourne Cup.