Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip back in work for autumn campaign and overseas targets

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant and superstar sprinter Nature Strip have returned to training in preparation for the autumn and possible overseas campaigns.

Verry Elleegant on her way to victory in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

The Chris Waller stable has revealed next year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney is likely to be Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant’s last Australian start.

The champion race mare returned from the paddock in pre-training on Monday and is expected back in Waller’s Rosehill stables prior to Christmas.

“I said to Chris she almost looks out of proportion,” Waller’s assistant Charlie Duckworth said.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her carry so much weight.

“She’s still maturing which is a great thing that its happening, but you wouldn’t have expected it.

“Generally, our better horses do slightly less in pre-training because Chris likes them in the stables prior to doing three-quarter pace work.

“She will only have a couple of weeks in pre-training and will be back in the stables before Christmas.”

Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant at the pre-trainers. Picture: Chris Waller Racing

Waller said recently that Verry Elleegant would have four starts during the autumn while Duckworth added there’d be “no point reinventing the wheel” so expect to see her make her racetrack return in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 12, the same race she’s resumed in for the past two years.

“Expect her autumn campaign to be similar to what it’s been the past couple of years,” Duckworth said.

“The Queen Elizabeth will be her Aussie grand final and this year it could well be her last start in Australia.

“The only big change to what’s ahead for her is the dream to try to get her to the Arc (Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe) in October.”

Meanwhile, Waller’s other superstar, The Everest and Sprint Classic winner Nature Strip, along with emerging excitement machine Espiona have both been in pre-training for longer than Verry Elleegant.

Duckworth also confirmed, form permitting, that an international assault on the Royal Ascot carnival is locked in for the hulking sprinter in June next year.

Nature Strip winning the Sprint Classic at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

“Nature Strip started last week while she will be back in the stables next week,” Duckworth said.

“With Nature Strip, all the owners are all on board so the dream for him is to get to Ascot.

“He’s achieved everything there is for him to achieve in Australia.

“There’s a lot of water still to go under the bridge but if he’s going as well as he can, he’ll be on the plane to England.

“He still has to prove he’s come up as good as ever in the autumn.

“The TJ Smith is a logical target but Chris still has to plot the autumn path for him and it will be a campaign built around getting him to England in his best possible shape.

“For Espiona, it’s a no-brainer that the Surround Stakes will be her first grand final but what comes after that is a blank canvas.

“She’s a weapon and there’s exciting times ahead with her.”

Originally published as Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip back in work for autumn campaign and overseas targets