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By Ray Hickson

History says Verry Elleegant will be somewhere in the finish of Saturday’s Group 1 $600,000 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and jockey James McDonald says there’s every reason to be confident about that.

Jockey James McDonald (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The champion mare pleased McDonald with her first-up effort, despite a midfield finish, in the Apollo Stakes two weeks ago and testing conditions are certainly no issue for her.

Verry Elleegant won the Chipping Norton last year on a soft 6 and was runner-up in 2020 to Te Akau Shark on a Good 4 and she was $3 favourite with TAB on Thursday to go back-to-back and claim her 11th Group 1.

“She’s come back in fantastic order,’’ McDonald said.

“She always seems to run really well in the race and we’re looking forward to seeing her do it again because she definitely hasn’t gone backwards this preparation.

“Back to the Randwick mile and give in the ground it all seems good.”

While it may not have appeared obvious to the eye, Verry Elleegant actually ran the second fastest last 600m of the Apollo, 34.11 (Punter’s Intelligence), after finding herself buried back on the fence from barrier one in a fast run race.

McDonald said the tempo was very much against her given she was first-up off a two mile win but left the races that day more than satisfied.

“It was a bit hard on her, a very quick race and she was out the back chasing all the way,’’ he said.

“She stuck to her guns well and she’s bounced through it as she normally does.”

The champion jockey is well aware he and Verry Elleegant have 4-1/2 lengths to make up on Think It Over from the Apollo clash and he has plenty of respect for their in-form rival.

But he also knows not to underestimate Chris Waller’s star mare.

“Think It Over’s first-up win was outstanding so we are just going to have to get to his level and if we can we’re definitely in a good spot,’’ he said.

“She’s an absolutely ripping mare. Whatever we put in front of her she seems to come out with flying colours.”

The Chipping Norton is a starting point for David Payne’s three time Group 1 winning mare Montefilia and the Rosehill trainer isn’t so concerned about a heavy track first-up.

He says the ground will likely make the mile a tougher staying test and that would be to Montefilia’s advantage.

She was $19 with TAB on Thursday and did kick off her spring with a closing second behind Think It Over in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes over the Randwick mile.

“She always runs well, she’ll be running on. When they are stopping she will be coming,’’ he said.

“I think it might be a bit sharp with the top horses but she will be running on.”

Verry Elleegant's first-up run in the Apollo Stakes

Montefilia, winner of The Metropolitan in the spring, is being aimed in the first instance at the Group 1 $1.5m Tancred Stakes (2400m) but Payne is open to changing direction depending on what happens in her first few runs back.

She may head to the Group 3 $350,000 Furphy Sky High Stakes (2000m) and back-up a week later in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) or head to the Tancred.

The four-year-old completed an exhibition gallop between races at Rosehill last weekend with stablemate Blue Soldier and Payne was impressed with how she’s matured.

“I think the next 12 months will be her best. She’s more mature,’’ he said.

“The Tancred is the one I’m looking at but if she shapes up I’d like to go to the Queen Elizabeth.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting