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By Ray Hickson

Chris Waller says it’s next stop Ranvet Stakes while James McDonald wants to correct an anomaly on Verry Elleegant’s record during The Star Championships.

James McDonald and part-owner Brae Sokolski celebrate Verry Elleegant's win. (Pic: Steve Hart).

Sydney is set to see plenty more of the reigning Horse Of The Year in the next six weeks after she clinched an 11th Group 1 win and went back-to-back in the $600,000 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Waller said Plan A had always been to head to the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) then on to the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) – her possible swansong in Australia – and he’s sticking with it.

“That has always been the plan (the Ranvet),’’ Waller said.

“Obviously the All-Star Mile was there and that might have been back on the cards had they not run today and that’s how things can change.

“That was always the plan the Ranvet, and then the Queen Elizabeth so three weeks-three weeks, it just works out perfectly.”

No Group 1 win comes easy – unless you’re a Winx or Black Caviar – and Verry Elleegant had to work for hers but when McDonald presented her at around the 300m there was only going to be one result.

She started $2.50 favourite and had a head to spare over She’s Ideel ($71) with Angel Of Truth ($61), the early leader, holding on for third ahead of Think It Over.

“She’s a real piece of work, fights like a tiger,’’ Waller said.

“I thought the second horse might have had us at the 100 metre mark but that’s when the Verry Elleeegant qualities pop in and she lifts to another level and that’s just her. She is in for a great prep.”

Verry Elleegant holds sway with TAB in all-in betting on the Ranvet at $2 while she firmed to outright $4.50 favourite in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes – that’s the one McDonald wants after she finished second to UK star Addeybb in the past two runnings.

“I think she should have won a Queen Elizabeth by now if things went right. Hopefully she’s well on track now,’’ he said.

“She’s an absolute star. I just can’t believe every time we turn up for a preparation she just seems to get better and better. I know it’s crazy to say but she literally is.”

That’s an ominous warning for her rivals as the Chipping Norton was only her second run since her famous two mile win last spring and she’s seemingly racing a little more on the dour side this preparation.

Remarkably, despite 11 Group 1s, it was the first time the six-year-old had won a Group 1 race for the second time.

“For her to pull out all stops at these kinds of trips is incredible,’’ McDonald said.

Verry Elleegant wins the Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick

Obviously the wet track has helped her but she’s a star, she’s an absolute star. I’m so lucky to be a part of it.

“She just turns up, doesn’t matter what conditions, what distance, she’ll perform really well. It’s hard to believe she won a Group 1 over seven furlongs and two miles but anything beyond 2000m she’s running top three. It takes a very good horse to beat her.”

Waller made it a Group 1 double at Randwick when Hinged, ridden by Brenton Avdulla, won the $500,000 Drinkwise Surround Stakes (1400m) in a tight finish over Startantes.

Of the Chipping Norton beaten brigade, Kerry Parker couldn’t have been happier with Think It Over’s fourth in the testing conditions and jockey Nash Rawiller reported he just didn’t have the same fluent action but still tried his heart out to run fourth.

He’s second elect at $2.80 in the Ranvet which will be his next port of call.

Check out the replays and results from Chipping Norton Stakes day at Royal Randwick