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The entire Thoroughbred racing world is today mourning the passing of former champion racemare Verry Elleegant.

Only an eight-year-old, Verry Elleegant died following complications giving birth to her foal (by Sea The Stars) in Ireland.

Verry Elleegant (James McDonald) wins the Group 1-Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

It was just a fortnight ago Australian Turf Club announced a Group 1 race would be permanently named in her honour during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

The $1 million Group 1-TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday 2 March, replacing the Chipping Norton Stakes.

Verry Elleegant won the race named in her honour twice at Royal Randwick in 2021 and 2022 during a stellar career which included 11 victories at Group 1 level, eight on Australian Turf Club tracks.

Trained by Sydney’s 13-time premiership winner Chris Waller, Verry Elleegant also won a Caulfield Cup (2020) and Melbourne Cup (2021) and in a 40-start career won 16 races and total prizemoney of $14.9m. She retired from racing in 2022.

Trainer Chris Waller, on behalf of her owners, said: "The news is just filtering through to stable staff now and other close connections who are coming to terms with this tragic news.

"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."