Verry worthy horse of the year

Source: Racing.com by James Tzaferis

Star mare Verry Elleegant was crowned Victorian Racehorse of Year on Sunday, extending her trainer Chris Waller’s incredible winning streak in the coveted award category.

Despite his main training base being in Sydney, Waller has prepared the last five winners of the award, with Verry Elleegant emulating the deeds of Nature Strip (2020) and Winx (2017 – 2019).

The Caulfield Cup champion, who also won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes in Melbourne last spring, was voted the best performed horse on Victorian tracks by a panel that includes members of Victoria’s racing administration and media.

The daughter of Zed polled 100 votes to finish well clear of Arcadia Queen (53), Russian Camelot (15) and Twilight Payment (15).

Speaking on Racing.com’s broadcast of the awards,Verry Elleegant’s breeder and part-owner Don Goodwin said it was a rewarding acknowledgement of his star mare.

“It’s very, very rewarding,” Goodwin said.

“So many people have looked after her and she’s been such hard work to get her racing manners right but often that’s the way with these precocious mares.

“She is something else.”

The full list of award winners from Sunday night’s Victorian Racing Award is below:

• Victorian Racehorse of the Year – Verry Elleegant
• Scobie Breasley Medal – Jamie Kah
• Fred Hoysted Medal – Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
• Tommy Corrigan Medal – Steven Pateman
• Colin Alderson Award – Ben Brisbourne
• VJA Most Valuable Jockey – Jamie Kah
• VJA Rising Star – Will Price
• Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership (Roy Higgins Medal) – Jame Kah
• Victorian Jockeys Premiership – John Allen
• Metropolitan Apprentice Premiership – Will Price
• Victorian Apprentice Premiership – Will Price
• Metropolitan Trainers Premiership – Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
• Victorian Trainers Premiership – Ciaron Maher and David Eustace