Mark Zahra keeps ride on Verry Elleegant for Melbourne Cup bid

Mark Zahra has retained the ride on Verry Elleegant in the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Chris Waller announced the decision through his racing manager Charlie Duckworth on Tuesday afternoon, confirming that after discussions with the mare's owners, Zahra was selected over her more regular rider James McDonald after Zahra partnered her to recent Group 1 wins in the Turnbull Stakes and last week's Caulfield Cup.

Instead, McDonald will ride stablemate Finche in the A$8 million Melbourne Cup on November 3.

Duckworth put out the following statement, which also confirmed Finche and Verry Elleegant will not be joined in the race by stablemate Toffee Tongue.

"All three of our Caulfield Cup runners have come through the Caulfield Cup in good shape," Duckworth said.

"Starting with Toffee Tongue, we just feel she is not ready for a Melbourne Cup this early in her career. Mr [Jonatha] Munz is happy for us to run her in the Queen Elizabeth or Matriarch or alternatively spell her and prepare her for an autumn campaign.

"Finche, he has bounced through the run and seems to be in great order after a tough run on Saturday.

"He is all set for the Melbourne Cup now and we have been lucky enough to secure James McDonald for the ride. He is a genuine chance again this year in his third attempt at the time-honoured race and we are delighted to be represented by him again.

"Last but certainly not least, Verry Elleegant has come through the race with no problems at all and after much discussion with the ownership group we have decided that firstly we are going to push on to the Melbourne Cup and secondly that Mark Zahra will retain the ride.

"James McDonald has done a lot of work on this wonderful mare and will rejoin her when she returns to Sydney for her autumn campaign.

"It was not a decision we took lightly but we felt it would be wrong to break up the partnership that Mark and Verry Elleegant have created winning both the Turnbull Stakes and the Caulfield Cup."

For complete coverage of racing and bloodstock in Australia and New Zealand, download ANZ Bloodstock News every dayhttp://www.anzbloodstocknews.com/issue