Multiple champion trainer Chris Waller, who’s trained more Gr1 winners than he’d care to remember – even for a career that’s relatively young – captured one of the majors on Saturday that had managed to elude his long reach.
Fittingly, in the post-Winx era, it was another of the great mares campaigned out of his Rosehill Gardens barn that scored in the Caulfield Cup.
Watch the race here
Bred and formerly raced in New Zealand where Waller got his grounding as a trainer, Verry Elleegant looked likely to be collared by one of the world’s great staying types, Anthony Van Dyck, however she dug deep to fend the Galileo entire off as his big weight finally told.
According to foxsports.com.au, Waller stated, “It’s a very special win with a very special horse. She’s tough… Mightn’t sound a lot to those watching on from home, but I can assure you, Caulfield Cup history suggests mares with 55 (kilograms on her back) – they don’t win very often. That’s how good she is!”
That ‘good’ translates to earnings approaching A$7 million and a half-dozen Gr1 wins to go with the rest of her Group and Listed performances.
