Glaring Melbourne Cup absence doesn’t seem fair

Verry Elleegant stunned Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday afternoon, but the mare’s Hall of Fame trainer was not among the spectators.

New Zealand’s Verry Elleegant stunned Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday afternoon, steaming past favourite Incentivise to win the 2021 Melbourne Cup in thrilling scenes.

But amid the post-race celebrations, there was one glaring absentee.

Verry Elleegant trainer Chris Waller was not among the 10,000 spectators in Melbourne, instead opting to remain home in Sydney.

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Racing NSW Covid-19 protocols would have required the 48-year-old to complete a five-day quarantine upon returning to Sydney, so he decided against travelling interstate.

Waller therefore watched his first ever Melbourne Cup triumph from the lounge room of his Sydney home alongside his family.

The Hall of Fame trainer was reportedly extremely emotional after watching Verry Elleegant power past Incentivise towards the finish line.

Waller’s Melbourne stable forewoman Jo Taylor was on deck to witness the victory and told Channel 10: “I really wish Chris could have been here. Covid has been a cruel thing to him. I would say he’s just as elated … by watching James’ (jockey James McDonald’s) reaction, I think it just shows you how special this race is.

“We had a very brief, albeit emotional, chat (over the phone) … he’s extremely proud of this mare.”

Waller also chose to stay in Sydney last year for The Everest, missing Verry Elleegant’s triumph at the Caulfield Cup.

James McDonald celebrates the win. Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Being one the modern great trainers, it seems bitterly unfair that Waller was not at Flemington to join the celebrations.

He is widely known for training legendary Winx towards a record 25 Group 1 race wins, but the Melbourne Cup was the one trophy that kept evading him throughout his stellar career.

But Waller has now cemented his place in racing folklore with a Melbourne Cup victory to go with his 130 Group 1 triumphs.

“Thanks to racing, such an amazing sport,” Waller told Channel 10 on Tuesday.

“It brings everybody together on the greatest day and everybody has a good time and we’re the lucky ones, with these great horses.

“They will be very proud back in New Zealand.”

Verry Elleegant owner Brae Sokolski said on the ceremony dais: “I’ll thank the master, Chris Waller. What a training performance. The guy is a freak.

“Unfortunately Chris is in Sydney. Chris, we couldn’t do this without you. You’ve handled this mare incredibly, with patience and it’s a testament to your training capability we’re here on stage.”

Waller told 3AW on Tuesday morning: “It’s a big race day, we’ve got runners all around Australia. I like to be able to sit and focus on each and every one of them.

“There’s nothing better than watching it with a bit of peace and quiet.”

Chris Waller watched the victory from home. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Incredibly, Waller had contemplated pulling Verry Elleegant from the Melbourne Cup over the weekend — it weighs only 440kg, and needed to shoulder an additional 57kg in the 3200m event.

Not since Makybe Diva has a horse won carrying 57kg or more, achieving the feat in 2005. Before that, you have to go all the way back to Think Big in 1975.

“I just needed one negative to pull the pin and the owners were very supportive of that, there was no pressure from them at all,’’ Waller said on Saturday.

“I said to them before the Cox Plate everything had to be 100 per cent otherwise we don’t go (to the Melbourne Cup).

“We even waited up to today but everything is perfect, we can’t fault her.

“Apart from the 57kg there was nothing to suggest she can’t run. That’s why she is there, anything else and she would have been out.

“Incentivise is just a superstar but this is a horse race and anything can happen.”

Waller had three other horses in this year’s Melbourne Cup — Selino (eighth), Great House (13th) and Ocean Billy (last).

Verry Elleegant jockey James McDonald said after the race: “When I went for home, I don’t know, I don’t know what I was thinking. I was thinking, where’s that post?

“She travelled so sweetly in the run for such a big way.

“She is trained by a master. He gets them right. She is a superstar and I’m so proud of her.”

The connections of reigning Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant are celebrating a staggering $4.4 million payday.

Originally published as Glaring Melbourne Cup absence doesn’t seem fair