'She was very rusty' - Verry Elleegant camp not concerned after European debut

A combination of being ring-rusty and the prevailing pace bias against horses ridden from behind at Deauville combined to make Verry Elleegant's first run outside Australia one which isn't likely to make her career highlights reel.

Slowly into stride under Frankie Dettori, the 11-time Group 1 winner and reigning Melbourne Cup champion gradually worked her way on to the back of the group, but when the front-running Aristia went for home, she was caught for speed and was four and three-quarter lengths adrift at the line, the seventh and last horse to finish.

Francis Graffard had been open in his appraisal beforehand that the extra time available to him in choosing this race for Verry Elleegant's European debut had been beneficial, and he was equally clear afterwards that the seven-year-old would draw plenty of benefit from the run.

"She was very rusty at the start of the race and you can't make up ground on that track at the moment," said Graffard as he watched his star recruit warm down in the grass paddock behind the racecourse stables.

"She tried and then she quickened in front again. She ran on at the end and she had a good blow after the race. I think she needed the race."

Graffard was given a blank sheet to start from after her owners elected to transfer her from trainer Chris Waller's Sydney yard with the goal of giving her a full European autumn, with the hope that she might run in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Assuming she shows no ill effects from her run in the Romanet, then her next start could be over the same course and distance as the Arc on Trials day in three weeks' time.

Graffard said: "I know the result is not very good but from a training point of view I don’t think it was such a bad run. She will probably have an entry in the Prix Vermeille and we'll see."

Results, replays and analysis

Read more from Deauville . . .

'He has a lot of speed' - Prix Morny glory for Aidan O'Brien's Blackbeard

Verry Elleegant last on European debut as Aristia lands Prix Jean Romanet

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.