Turnbull Stakes: Verry Elleegant leads home Toffee Tongue, Finche in Chris Waller clean sweep

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has announced his arrival in the southern capital for the spring with a Group 1 trifecta led by Australia’s best mare Verry Elleegant. But this is the entree, not the main course.

Verry Elleegant, ridden by Mark Zahra, takes out the TAB Turnbull Stakes.

Chris Waller’s imposing Caulfield Cup arsenal has strengthened after the master Sydney trainer delivered a stable trifecta in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) as Verry Elleegant notched her fifth victory at elite level.

Verry Elleegant, $5 favourite, led home Toffee Tongue ($71) and Finche ($5.50) as Waller successes at both Flemington and Randwick underlined the Kiwi’s extraordinary reach.

Waller said the Turnbull Stakes was the launching pad for the October 17 Caulfield Cup as TAB installed promoted Verry Elleegant to $8 favourite over Anthony Van Dyck and Orderofthegarter, who are both quoted at $9.

“She’s (Verry Elleegant) tough, she’s back on track and looking forward to the Caulfield Cup,” Waller said.

“It was very good and they‘re on track for what I’ve set for them,” Waller said.

“Finche was an eye-catching run, he had a wide draw and had to work across and do a lot of work but he was still there at the finish, beaten by a pretty good horse.

“He’ll go to the Caulfield Cup, as will Toffee Tongue. It was her first run against those really good horses and she didn’t shirk the task.”

Ridden by Mark Zahra, Verry Eleegant provided Waller with his fifth Turnbull winner in six years.

The daughter of Zed joins Kings Will Dream (2019), Winx (2017-18) and Preferment (2015) on the Turnbull honour roll in a sequence interrupted only by James Cummings’ Hartnell (’15).

She's now a five-time Group 1 winner. 👌

How could you doubt her, Verry Elleegant so tough in the Turnbull Stakes. 🙏 @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/vXXhk23DYt

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 3, 2020

Verry Elleegant impressed Zahra with her tenacity after he was forced wider than anticipated into a sapping northerly.

“She’s a winner, she had her struck right out,” Zahra said as Verry Elleegant added the Turnbull to her previous Group 1 spoils — the Winx Stakes, Tancred Stakes, ATC Oaks and Vinery Stud Stakes.

Verry Elleegant is doing her best work at the business end of the Flemington feature.

MORE RACING

PERSAN SHOWS NERVES OF STEEL TO SEAL CUP SPOT

“I had the back of Finche and one got under my neck. I was not so happy out there.

“It made me come an extra horse wider but I was outside horses which she likes and I had momentum. She was strong in the finish because it was a ding dong battle up the straight.

“She was going to be beaten but she was too tough.

“I’m booked for the Caulfield Cup, so they better go there.”

Where to next for Verry Elleegant? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Yqd8b4Y00t

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 3, 2020

“Her manners, full credit to Chris and the team. Her manners are so much better now. She’s got a bit of an awkward head carriage, but she relaxes really well and that’s the main thing.”

Stable representative Jo Taylor believes both Toffee Tongue and Finche are tracking well for their spring objectives.

Five G1s for Verry Elleegant.

Turnbull Stakes ✅
Winx Stakes ✅
Tancred Stakes ✅
ATC Oaks ✅
Vinery Stud Stakes ✅ pic.twitter.com/qqbUfRst2a

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 3, 2020

“She (Toffee Tongue) was absolutely fantastic. She was nearly going to upset the whole apple cart there today,” she said.

“He (Finche) was fantastic, probably looking to really step out in trip.

“We know that the Melbourne Cup will be his grand final and he is on target for that. Would’ve been nice to obviously get there, but again, there’s not much in it, is there?”

SUNDAY FIX

OLLIE PREDICTS BIG THINGS FOR PROGENY

Damien Oliver predicts Frosted’s progeny will be keenly sought after Ingratiating’s impressive Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) victory over hot favourite General Beau.

“He’s a little ripper. He pleased me in his trials. He didn’t quite get it all together but I knew he had something there,” Oliver said.

“I’ve only ridden two of these Frosteds (sire) — a filly than ran third here at the last meeting and this bloke, and geez they’re really forward and precocious types and I think this bloke has got a good future in front of him.

“It’s always good when they clear out from the rest and you think they’re (Ingratiating and General Beau) two nice colts and this horse has got a good future.”

General Beau will likely be spelled after stumbling on crossing the line, dislodging jockey Jamie Kah.

SEPTEMBER SHINES ON OCTOBER STAGE

Filly September Run served notice on the high-profile colts she’d be tough to beat in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes after another emphatic win at Flemington.

September Run has emerged as a serious straight-track filly in her two runs at Flemington. She easily handled fillies’ grade at her previous outing before comfortably beating the boys in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m).

TAB installed the Chris Waller-trained filly as a $7 chance in its Coolmore Stud Stakes market. Jockey Craig Williams agreed the Exceed And Excel filly could tackle the Derby Day challenge on her performance on Saturday.

“The way she raced today, if they did want to go further with her then I’d be confident that she could handle it,” Williams said.

Sunlight and Nechita in 2018 and 2012 respectively were the last two fillies to beat the colts in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

LAURIE SOLVES THE RIDDLE 

Matt Laurie’s faith in Riddle Me That was shaken by a Caulfield flop on September 19, but the trainer’s instincts were rewarded when the gelding won the Listed Paris Lane Handicap (1400m).

“We were very happy with the horse going into his last run and he just went terrible,” Laurie said. “He pulled up poorly and we couldn’t find anything wrong with him so we pressed on and rode him a little bit quieter today. It was great to see him finish off so strong.

“(After last start) I threw a tongue tie on him and hoped for the best.

“I said to Dan (Stackhouse), even on his best this could be out of his depth but clearly it wasn’t. He’s always been very honest and consistent his whole career so we just chose to press on and glad we did.”

TAB BIG BETS

RACE ONE

Favourite backers got off on the wrong note at Flemington when General Beau was a costly proposition in the Darley Maribyrnong Trial (1000m).

General Beau was crunched from a price of $2.10 in the morning to start a dominant $1.50 favourite, holding nearly five times as much as anything else in the race. Overall, he was responsible for 66 percent of the total investment.

Ingratiating was largely ignored by punters and went $9-$12 although did attract a few decent bets at the double figures late in betting.

BETS: Ingratiating $1,000 e/w @ $12/$2.30, $8,000 e/w @ $11/$2.30

BETS: General Beau $10,000 @ $1.55, $2,000 @ $1.55

September Run, ridden by Craig Williams, claims the Poseidon Stakes.

RACE TWO

September Run was one of the best backed runners all day and did the right thing by her backers in the Seppelt Wines Poseidon Stakes (1100m).

The Chris Waller runner was $2.50 into as low as $2.10 at one stage early in the afternoon, before a late drift saw it get back out to $2.40.

Unleashing a big finishing sprint under Craig Williams, the pair came from last and landed a number of big bets and multis. September Run held more than half the investment on the race and was more than three times as popular as the next pick in the market, Minhaaj ($4.60-$5.50).

BETS: September Run $4,500 @ $2.40, $2,300 @ $2.40, $2,250 @ $2.40, $5,000 @ $2.30 TWICE

BETS: Minhaaj $10,000 @ $5, $2,143 x $2,857 e/w @ $5/$1.75, $2,000 e/w @ $5/$1.75

BETS: Valaquenta $2,000 @ $5.50

RACE THREE

Riddle Me That had good specking overnight and into Saturday and landed the money in the Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).

For most of the week double figures were being offered for the Matt Laurie runner with TAB going up $15 on Wednesday. Today, he was $8.50 in the morning but got back out to his opening price.

Begood Toya Mother ($4.80-$6.50) was a drifter despite going around with the most money while Munitions ($6.50) had plenty of admirers as did Fascino ($6) and Legionnaire ($8).

BETS: Munitions $1,000 @ $6.50, $1,000 @ $6

BETS: Legionnaire $1,500 x $2,500 e/w @ $8/$2.50, $1,000 @ $8 MULTIPLE TIMES

BETS: Best Of Days $1,750 e/w @ $9.50/$3.10

BETS: Fascino $1,000 @ $6 MULTIPLE TIMES

BETS: Begood Toya Mother $2,500 e/w @ $5/$2

RACE FOUR

A fair bit of interest late in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) came for Zoutori which finished best to land some handy bets.

The Matt Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained gelding was $5-$4.80 at one stage during the day before getting back out to $5.50 at the jump. Although popular, Zoutori was overshadowed in the holds by Tofane ($2.80-$3.30) which blew in the final 10 minutes of betting. Santa Ana Lane ($4.40-$5.50) was best tried outside the fav while Dollar For Dollar ($12-$7) ran right up to the support for him and nearly landed a nice betting move.

Kementari ($12-$7.50) had his admirers at the price.

BETS: Zoutori $2,500 e/w @ $5/$1.80, $1,000 @ $5

BETS: Santa Ana Lane $3,100 @ $5, $1,000 @ $5

BETS: Tofane $8,675 @ $3.20, $2,000 @ $3.20, $1,800 @ $3.20, $5,000 @ $3.10, $3,500 @ $3.10, $3,300 @ $3.10

RACE FIVE

Punters were more than happy to be on Thermosphere at the price in the TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m).

TAB went up $4.60 in the morning which was too good to refuse for a number of customers. Such was the weight of support throughout the day, she was bottomed out at $3.30 before starting a dominant $3.60 favourite.

Sitting wide the trip didn’t seem to bother the Godolphin filly, with Damian Lane getting the best out of her to beat Starelle ($26) and Chica Fuerta ($13-$8.50) which ran right up to the support for her.

Of the others, Miss Guggenheim ($5-$4.80-$6) held more than anything else outside the winner and was one of the first horses backed on Wednesday when $9 was on the table.

BETS: Thermosphere $10,000 @ $3.60

BETS: Miss Guggenheim $1,000 @ $6 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,000 @ $4.80

BETS: Succeed Indeed $3,000 @ $7

Persan, ridden by Jye McNeil, wins the The Bart Cummings to gain a start in this year’s Melbourne Cup.

RACE SIX

Persan was pretty solid throughout the day for the running of The Bart Cummings (2510m).

The son of Pierro was $9.50-$10 and hovered between those two prices for most of the afternoon.

Shared Ambition ($4.60-$5) and Lord Belvedere ($5.50) were the most popular in front of Schabau ($5.50).

Admire Robson ($18-$10) was specked at the eachway odds all day and kept firming throughout the afternoon.

BETS: Persan

BETS: Admire Robson $1,000 @ $13, $1,500 e/w @ $10/$2.90, $1,000 @ $10

BETS: Lord Belvedere $3,090 @ $5.50, $1,000 @ $5.50 MULTIPLE TIMES

BETS: Shared Ambition $2,500 e/w @ $4.80/$2, $2,000 @ $4.60

BETS: Schabau $4,000 x $4,500 e/w @ $5/$2, $2,500 @ $5, $2,000 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1,000 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES

RACE SEVEN

It was a terrible result for bookies with Verry Elleegant taking out the TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

TAB endured a big loss on the race after Verry Elleegant ($5) went around with nearly double the amount of money than any other runner.

Surprise Baby ($6) had its fair share of support once more while Master Of Wine ($7.50-$5.50) was a notable firmer as was Finche ($9-$5.50).

BETS: Verry Elleegant $5,000 e/w @ $5/$2, $3,000 @ $5, $2,200 @ $5, $1,000 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES, $5,000 @ $4.80

BETS: Surprise Baby $2,000 x $3,000 e/w @ $5.50/$2.20

BETS: Master Of Wine $2,000 @ $6, $1,000 @ $6

BETS: Django Freeman $3,000 x $1,000 e/w @ $23/$6

RACE EIGHT

Sierra Sue didn’t attract a great deal of support in the Lexus Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m).

The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young galloper opened the day at $16 and jumped at that same quote. Despite having some backing at the double figures, the daughter of Darci Brahma was largely ignored by punters.

It was Madam Rouge ($5-$3.90) and Perfect Jewel ($4.40-$3.60) which attracted most of the big money and were strong firmers throughout the day.

They were head and shoulders above the others in terms of money held with Rubisaki ($5-$8.50) next best despite being a drifter. Pretty Brazen ($6-$7) was best of the others.

BETS: Madam Rouge $3,000 @ $4.40, $6,000 x $6,500 e/w @ $3.80/$1.65

BETS: Pretty Brazen $2,000 x $3,000 e/w @ $6.50/$2.30

BETS: Savatiano $4,000 @ $10

RACE NINE

Favourite backers were hoping Young Werther could get them out of strife at the end of the Flemington card.

The Danny O’brien-trained runner was a heavily tried favourite in the Kirkland Lake Gold Super Impose Stakes (1800m), going around as one of the best tried runners not only at Flemington but across the country.

Young Werther ($3.90-$2.70) was crunched and held more than five times the amount of money than anything else in the race.

The winner, Khoekhoe ($10-$5.50) was one of few movers tried to beat the fav as was Alcyone ($7.50-$5).

BETS: Young Werther $5,000 @ $3.20, $1,200 @ $3.20, $9,300 @ $3, $5,000 @ $3 TWICE, $3,500 @ $3, $3,500 @ $2.80, $4,500 @ $2.70, $3,800 @ $2.70

BETS: Alycone $5,000 @ $5

Originally published as Turnbull Stakes: Verry Elleegant leads home Toffee Tongue, Finche in Chris Waller clean sweep