2021 Melbourne Cup hero Verry Elleegant dies due to complications while giving birth to her first foal in Ireland

Champion jockey James McDonald was brought to tears when he heard of the tragic death of champion mare, Verry Elleegant.

James McDonald after winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup on Verry Elleegant.

Sydney’s premier jockey James McDonald revealed he was moved to tears when he learned of champion mare Verry Elleegant’s tragic passing.

Verry Elleegant lost her life due to complications when giving birth to her first foal at a stud in Ireland over the weekend. Her foal also died.

McDonald was made aware of the mare’s death when he received a 7am phone call from owner Brae Sokolski on Monday morning.

“When Brae rang me I was expecting to be told she had a beautiful colt or filly,’’ McDonald said,

“We knew she was due very soon but to get that call she had lost her life, I couldn’t believe it at first. It brought tears to my eyes.’’

Verry Elleegant, who was in foal to English super horse Sea The Stars, won 16 of her 40 races including the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Tancred Stakes, ATC Australian Oaks, two Chipping Norton Stakes, George Main Stakes and Winx Stakes, earning more than $14.8 million prizemoney.

READ | Opinion: Outside the Everest, what is racing doing to attract Generation Next?

Mighty mare!

Verry Elleegant wins the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup is superb style from Incentivise under @mcacajamez for @cwallerracing at @FlemingtonVRC… pic.twitter.com/RzL3PcDpbs

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 2, 2021

The champion mare won 11 Group 1 races and earned Horse of the Year honours in 2021-22.

Verry Elleegant was a rarity in the modern era as she was versatile enough to win at Group 1 level from 1400m to 3200m.

McDonald was Verry Elleegant’s regular rider, combining with the mare to win nine Group 1 races including the 2021 Melbourne Cup.

“Verry Elleegant gave me some of my greatest moments (on the racetrack),’’ McDonald said.

“She wasn’t straight forward to deal with and could do a lot wrong in her races but she was an incredible racehorse.’’

Verry Elleegant and James McDonald cross the line in the 2021 Melbourne Cup.

McDonald believes the success he had with Verry Elleegant led to him riding more for the all-powerful Chris Waller stable.

“I have a great connection with the Chris Waller stable and I believe she was the horse that helped me get there when I rode her to win the Vinery Stud Stakes and (ATC Australian) Oaks in 2019,’’ McDonald said.

“I have so much to thank her for.’’

VERRY ELLEEGANT wins the Caulfield Cup from Anthony Van Dyck in 2nd

Huuuuuge from PRINCE OF ARRAN to run on late, lovely prep @FellowesRacingpic.twitter.com/rnnao6vPlc

— Off To The Races (@OTTR_Elliot) October 17, 2020

Sokolski was shattered to lose the mare described as a “once in a lifetime horse.’’

“In racing we know how tough this sport can be and you brace yourself for tragedies like this but it is difficult to comprehend,’’ Sokolski said.

“This is such a tragic loss as it is the end of her family tree. She means so much to Chris, James, myself, the whole team. I’m still coming to terms with what has happened.’’

Waller issued a statement after he learned of the Verry Elleegant tragedy.

“She was in fantastic hands on a farm who did all they could for her, and we would like to thank them for their efforts which we will be forever grateful for,” Waller said.

“We all saw the courage she had on the racetrack over many seasons, and she will never be forgotten by those close to her as well as the wider racing public who followed her career and loved her so much.”

11 G1's
ELEVEN!
🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

VERRY ELLEEGANT is just incredible. Watch as she battles to lands the G1 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes.

🎥 @7horseracingpic.twitter.com/AfOzaScgIb

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) February 26, 2022

The Australian Turf Club had only recently announced Sydney’s first Group 1 race of the year, the Chipping Norton Stakes has been renamed the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

Sokolski said the inaugural running of the Group 1 $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 2 will now be a significant but sombre occasion.

“I am a part-owner of Buckaroo who is likely to run in the Verry Elleegant Stakes so that race takes on an additional poignancy for me,’’ Sokolski said.

McDonald, who has ridden four Chipping Norton Stakes winners including the last three in succession on Verry Elleegant (2021-21) and Anamoe (2023), will ride another outstanding mare Fangirl in the Verry Elleegant Stakes next week.

VERRY ELLEEGANT

8yo mare

Zed-Opulence

40 starts: 16-8-4

Prizemoney: $14,886,619

GROUP 1 WINS

2019 Vinery Stud Stakes

2019 Australian Oaks

2020 Tancred Stakes

2020 Winx Stakes

2020 Turnbull Stakes

2020 Caulfield Cup

2021, 2022 Chipping Norton Stakes

2021 Ranvet Stakes

2021 George Main Stakes

2021 Melbourne Cup

■ Verry Elleegant 12.10.2015 - 18.2.2024. Leave your tributes in the comments section.

Originally published as 2021 Melbourne Cup hero Verry Elleegant dies due to complications while giving birth to her first foal in Ireland