Watch: star mare Verry Elleegant lands first Melbourne Cup for Chris Waller

Verry Elleegant provided Chris Waller with a first Caulfield Cup success last year and she performed a similar feat in Australia's biggest race, the Lexus Melbourne Cup, when sealing a terrific tenth top-level win in the Flemington showpiece.

The star mare added the all-important contest to Waller's illustrious CV with a four-length victory over hot favourite Incentivise, with the Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission half a length back in third and Floating Artist, formerly trained by Richard Hannon, a head behind in fourth.

Verry Elleegant, Australia's horse of the year in 2020-21, finished strongly from stall 15 to finish seventh last year and had an even wider draw from stall 19 to overcome this time, but gained a more prominent position under James McDonald and cruised into contention on the turn in.

Incentivise, who was later found to have swelling to his near-fore, hit the front on the approach to the home straight, but was soon headed by Verry Elleegant inside the final furlong and a half. The race, worth A$8m (£4.38m), was as good as over.

Waller, who will forever be associated with wondermare Winx and watched at home with his family in Sydney, said: "When she crossed the line, I was very emotional. I really wanted to be there to share it with the staff and those who have worked so hard, but to watch it with my family, made it very, very special.

"It makes it pretty special to have another mare like this one. She’s so brave, so determined and so good. We’ve had some great wins and important wins and this is certainly one of them. It’s going to take a while to sink in. She was the class horse and showed that with a finish I’ll never forget."

Last year's winner Twilight Payment, the other European-trained runner, failed to get the lead early and finished 11th, while in the same Lloyd Williams silks, British-born jockey Rachel King finished 17th on Pondus on her first ride in the race.

Fortune was on the side of McDonald, similarly winning the race for the first time, as until Thursday he was booked to ride the Ismail Mohammed-trained Away He Goes, who was ruled out with a tendon injury.

Waller decided to run Verry Elleegant, a Group 1 winner over distances ranging from seven furlongs to two miles and the conqueror of Addeybb in the Ranvet Stakes in March, on Saturday morning.

James McDonald: lifts the Melbourne Cup trophyCredit: Quinn Rooney / Getty

McDonald said: "This means everything and to do it on Verry Elleegant is extra special as she's been along for the ride for so many seasons now.

"This has cemented her place right at the top with those real good horses because what she's done over varying trips over the years is just incredible.

"I love her to bits and she's been so good to me. I've always dreamed of winning the Melbourne Cup, but never thought I would win one as it's so hard to do it.

"I was booked for Away He Goes and sadly he went amiss, but when one door closes another one opens. Myself and Chris have had a lot of luck together and it helps when you get horses like this."

Verry Elleegant: stretches clear of her rivals to win the Melbourne CupCredit: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Verry Elleegant became the 17th filly or mare to win the race and the first to finish in the top three since Makybe Diva struck in 2005. She completed a rare one-two for part-owner Brae Sokolski, who has shares in the winner and Incentivise, one of the shortest-priced favourites in the race's 160-year history.

Sokolski, whose emotions got the better of him when breaking Covid protocols to enter the winner's enclosure, said: "I’m so apologetic about breaking the Covid protocols but I just wanted to be with the mare and also with Incentivise, so the adrenalin got the better of me. But at these moments, they’re once in a lifetime. It's extraordinary and the most humbling moment of my life.

"Incentivise was the hype horse and we did think he would win, but we still had so much faith in Verry Elleegant and at the 300-metre mark when I saw those colours on the outside, I knew the race was over. To do what she has done takes her to the upper echelons of the pantheon of Australia's greatest racehorses.

"It's a dream come true having a runner, let alone a winner, let alone the Quinella [forecast]. It's a special day and a privilege."

Following a spate of fatalities in recent years, Racing Victoria will have been pleased to report no such news for this renewal, although Incentivise and ninth Tralee Rose sustained injuries.

The Caulfield Cup winner was examined by Peter Moody's vet and his condition will be assessed over the next few days, while the latter will stay overnight at Werribee Vet Hospital, although scans revealed she sustained a laceration to a hind leg rather than any tendon damage.

Melbourne Cup finishing positions

1 Verry Elleegant
2 Incentivise
3 Spanish Mission
4 Floating Artist
5 The Chosen One
6 Grand Promenade
7 Delphi
8 Selino
9 Tralee Rose
10 She’s Ideel
11 Twilight Payment
12 Miami Bound
13 Great House
14 Sir Lucan
15 Explosive Jack
16 Master Of Wine
17 Pondus
18 Carif
19 Knights Order
20 Persan
21 Port Guillaume
22 Johnny Get Angry
23 Ocean Billy

Read more . . .

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Tom Marquand and Addeybb second to Verry Elleegant in Ranvet Stakes

First Caulfield Cup for Waller as Verry Elleegant beats Anthony Van Dyck

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