Melbourne Cup hero Verry Elleegant dies due to complications

A popular 11-time Group 1 winner has tragically died with figures in Australian racing struggling to come to terms with the loss.

Verry Elleegant wins the 2021 Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant has tragically died.

The 11-time Group 1 winner, and 2021 Melbourne Cup champion, passed away “due to complications giving birth to her foal” in Ireland.

The foal also died.

Trainer Chris Waller, on behalf of her owners, said on Monday morning “... the news is just filtering through to stable staff now and other close connections who are coming to terms with this tragic news”.

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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

“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.”

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

Verry Elleegant, an eight-year-old mare, was giving birth to a foal by former superstar racehorse, Sea The Stars.

It was her first foal.

It was only late last month that the Australian Turf Club renamed a historic Group 1 race in her honour.

The Chipping Norton Stakes, traditionally the first Sydney Group 1 race of the year and boasting prizemoney of $1m, is now called the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

The race will be run on Saturday, March 2.

VERRY ELLEEGANT’S 11 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 Melbourne Cup hero Verry Elleegant dies due to complications