2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Day Preview

Mogul Monarch returned in top order, scoring a dominant first up win over 1100m at Wyong and he looks well placed here.

With just the nine race starts, he’s putting together a tidy record and continues to work through his grades with relative ease.

A son of Capitalist, he races exceptionally well over 1100m and if he can overcome the tricky gate, he’ll be right there at the business end.

Carribean King has been the runner up in all three appearances over the 1000m here and I think he can go one better this time.

Just beaten by the barest of margins back in December, he then headed to Eagle Farm where he charged home late into fifth after settling at the tail.

He lines up here off a six-week let up and does race very well fresh.

Nash Rawiller knows him well and goes back aboard for Matthew Dunn.

Spring Lee has been racing well and has the advantage of race fitness over several of her rivals.

Beaten less than a length over 1200m at Rosehill two starts back, the then stepped out in the Triscay Stakes where she was solid racing up on speed.

A daughter of Zoustar, she’s yet to salute over 1200m but it does look within her reach, and she’ll certainly appreciate the drop back in grade.

James McDonald jumps aboard for the first time, and she’s set to receive all the favours from gate two.

Comedy made up plenty of ground late when resuming in the Pierro and he will have taken plenty of improvement from the run.

The Snitzel colt settled back at the tail and was a long way off the leader turning into the straight, but he picked up strongly to over the final part to finish second.

Whist he was still over two lengths off Shaggy, I think he can turn the tables with the rise to 1200m in the Skyline Stakes on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day.

Josh Parr got a good feel for him last time and he’ll again do the steering for team Godolphin.

Snitzel Miss almost landed the prize when making her debut in the Widden Stakes and she’ll be better for the experience.

Settling well back, she found herself with nowhere to go upon entering the straight but powered through the middle to get within a nose of the all-the-way winner.

With a month since that run, the Chris Waller trained filly has been given a 900m trial to keep her up to the mark and the slight to rise to 1200m looks ideal in Saturday’s Sweet Embrace Stakes on way to a potential Golden Slipper bid.

James McDonald stays aboard and if she can slot in and find cover early, I think she’ll be too strong for them late.

Olentia returned to the races with an encouraging effort in the Expressway Stakes and I think she’s well suited here with the rise in trip for the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes.

Taken back to last in the small field, she finished off nicely on the outside to get within a length of Magic Time and she strips fitter for it.

Whilst she does boast a terrific fresh record, she is a two-time winner second up and she’s certainly proven herself a top-class mare.

Jason Collett partnered her last start, and he stays onboard for Chris Waller.

Lady Shenandoah was ultra impressive when resuming in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes and she looks set for big campaign.

Only lightly raced, the daughter of Snitzel has shown great improvement every time she has stepped out at the races, and she took it all the way last campaign, snaring her first Group 1 victory when saluting in the Flight Stakes.

She looks to have come back bigger and better and will relish the rise to 1400m.

James McDonald partnered her in her first outings, and he goes back in the saddle for Chris Waller in the opening Group 1 on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day.

The spring’s Cox Plate winner Via Sistina kicked off her preparation with a very pleasing effort in the Apollo Stakes and she looks primed to go second up.

Slowly away, she was then held up momentarily in the early part of the straight but charged home late into third.

The six-time Group One winning mare is sure to relish the rise in trip and regular rider James McDonald will reunite with her in the feature race on Saturday.

Golden Mile makes his return, and the Godolphin galloper has been gelded since we last him saw him on race day.

Winner of the 2022 Caulfield Guineas, the son of Astern continued to race well at a high level and he looks to have come back in fine order off a recent trial win.

Held together in in the 900m Warwick Farm heat, he worked to the line strongly and looks ready to go in the Liverpool City Cup.

He does race well fresh, the 1300m kick should suit and he draws to get the right run under Adam Hyeronimus.

There was a lot to like about the first up effort of Birdman and he’s sure to relish the rise to 2000m.

Only lightly raced, the Irish bred gelding was sent to the paddock after failing to figure in the Bendigo Cup, which was his first start on Australian soil.

Given the extra time, he looks to have settled in well and he was strong through the line when resuming here over mile.

He just had the four runs in Europe before making his way down under and showed plenty of talent, winning his first two before a finishing third in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

Fitter for that first up outing, he looks well placed here and gets the services of James McDonald in the last to close the Verry Elleegant Stakes Day card.