Verry Elleegant Stakes

Verry Elleegant Stakes

Group One Betting Guide
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Location: Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Distance: 1600m

The Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes is one of Sydney’s feature mile races and is now the official opening of Sydney’s Autumn Racing Carnival.

Held at Randwick at weight-for-age level, the $1,000,000 mile race is considered a major lead-up race to the Doncaster Handicap and the Sydney Cup.

Run as the Chipping Norton Stakes up until 2024, the Group 1 event was renamed to the Verry Elleegant Stakes to honour the Melbourne Cup-winning champion.

With names such as Phar Lap, Bernborough, Winx, Tulloch and Tie The Knot among the lost of past winners, the Verry Elleegant Stakes is a race steeped in history.


2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes betting odds

Markets for the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes are currently unavailable.


Best Verry Elleegant Stakes bookmakers

Many of the top horse betting sites have got odds available for the Verry Elleegant Stakes all year around, with this a group race that has plenty of anticipation.

The best bookmakers for Verry Elleegant Stakes markets are:


Verry Elleegant Stakes news & tips

Think It Over wins the Verry Elleegant Stakes
Nash Rawiller and Kerry Parker have combined with Think It Over ($9.00) to secure victory in the newly named Group ...
Randwick full racing tips
The Verry Elleegant Stakes headlines a bumper 10-race card at Randwick this Saturday. See our free betting tips and quaddie ...
Verry Elleegant Stakes 2024 tips
See our in-depth betting preview and free tips for the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes, where Fangirl is a roaring favourite ...
Fangirl
The Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) has attracted a quality 10-horse field to Randwick on Saturday, with Fangirl opening ...
Fangirl
Fangirl ($2.00) has produced a breathtaking display on Saturday to secure victory in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at ...
Verry Elleegant receives Group 1 race named in her honour
One of Australian racing’s most popular modern-day champions Verry Elleegant will have a Group 1 race permanently named in her ...

Verry Elleegant Stakes betting guide

Favourites have a good record in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, and it pays to follow the quality milers that are proven winners over the distance.

A lot of runners in the Verry Elleegant Stakes are stayers looking for more ground, but this makes it easier for punters to sift through the field and find the winning selection. Quality thoroughbreds which have won as the favourite include the likes of Winx, Verry Elleegant, Shoot Out, Starcraft, Lonhro, Tie The Knot (on four occasions), Super Impose and Our Waverley Star.

The shortest favourite in recent history to win was Winx at $1.10, while the longest price paid was $80 when He’s No Pie Eater lived up to his name in 2007. The son of Canny Lad came from nowhere to win the Chipping Norton before taking out the Rosehill Guineas later that month.

The best form guide for the Verry Elleegant Stakes is the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, which is run two weeks prior. Six horses have completed the double since 2005 – Anamoe (2023), Winx (2016), Contributer (2015), Theseo (2010), Grand Armee (2005) and Lonhro (2003). Winx, Verry Elleegant and Tuesday Joy are the only mares to have won the Chipping Norton, which is a race firmly dominated by the males.

The best barrier to follow is easily barrier four. It has a record of nine wins from the last 36 starts which is four more than any other barrier. Horses in barriers five and nine have struggled with only one win a piece from the last 35 attempts. Horses drawn wide found it tough to cross from the 1600m when the race was held at Warwick Farm, but it has been made easier since the race moved to Randwick.

Hugh Bowman is a world-class jockey and is arguably the one to follow in the Chipping Norton Stakes. Bowman has had 18 rides for seven wins and four placings.


2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Final Field

HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes final field is released.


Previous Verry Elleegant Stakes Fields

  • Think It Over Silks

    1. Think It Over (3)

    • T: Kerry Parker
    • J: Nash Rawiller
    • W: 59kg
    • F: 3×613
    • Age: 8YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: So You Think (NZ)
    • Dam: Personal Service
    Cascadian Silks

    2. Cascadian (9)

    • T: James Cummings
    • J: Tom Marquand
    • W: 59kg
    • F: 9x7x3
    • Age: 9YO
    • Color: Chestnut
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: New Approach (IRE)
    • Dam: Falls of Lora (IRE)
    Arapaho Silks

    3. Arapaho (8)

    • T: Bjorn Baker
    • J: Zac Lloyd
    • W: 59kg
    • F: 7x0x4
    • Age: 7YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: Lope de Vega (IRE)
    • Dam: Alzubra (GB)
    Spywire Silks

    4. Buckaroo (1)

    • T: Chris Waller
    • J: Tommy Berry
    • W: 59kg
    • F: 5×572
    • Age: 5YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Horse
    • Sire: Fastnet Rock
    • Dam: Roheryn (IRE)
    Just Fine Silks

    5. Just Fine (2)

    • T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
    • J: Regan Bayliss
    • W: 59kg
    • F: x0111
    • Age: 6YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
    • Dam: Bint Almatar (USA)
    Navajo Peak Silks

    6. Navajo Peak (3)

    • T: David Payne
    • J: Jason Collett
    • W: 59kg
    • F: 4×081
    • Age: 5YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: Territories (IRE)
    • Dam: Ship Rock
    Lindermann Silks

    7. Lindermann (5)

    • T: Chris Waller
    • J: Tim Clark
    • W: 59kg
    • F: 6×884
    • Age: 4YO
    • Color: Brown
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: Lonhro
    • Dam: Self Esteem
    Athabascan Silks

    8. Athabascan (6)

    • T: John O’Shea
    • J: Tyler Schiller
    • W: 59kg
    • F: x2781
    • Age: 5YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Gelding
    • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
    • Dam: Alzubra (GB)
    Fangirl Silks

    9. Fangirl (10)

    • T: Chris Waller
    • J: James McDonald
    • W: 57kg
    • F: 1×471
    • Age: 5YO
    • Color: Bay
    • Sex: Mare
    • Sire: Sebring
    • Dam: Little Surfer Girl
    Atishu Silks

    10. Atishu (7)

    • T: Chris Waller
    • J: Kerrin McEvoy
    • W: 57kg
    • F: 8×120
    • Age: 6YO
    • Color: Brown
    • Sex: Mare
    • Sire: Savabeel
    • Dam: Posy (NZ)
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Anamoe
    James Cummings
    James McDonald
    3
    59kg
    2 Silks
    Mo’unga
    Annabel Neasham
    Hugh Bowman
    11
    59kg
    3 Silks
    Knights Order
    Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
    Tim Clark
    7
    59kg
    4 Silks
    Huetor
    Peter & Paul Snowden
    William Pike
    9
    59kg
    5 Silks
    Laws Of Indices
    Annabel Neasham
    Ryan Maloney
    6
    59kg
    6 Silks
    Stockman
    Joseph Pride
    Sam Clipperton
    10
    59kg
    7 Silks
    Arapaho
    Bjorn Baker
    Rachel King
    2
    59kg
    8 Silks
    Benaud
    John O’Shea
    Chad Schofield
    5
    59kg
    9 Silks
    El Bodegon
    Chris Waller
    Regan Bayliss
    12
    58.5kg
    10 Silks
    Montefilia
    David Payne
    Dylan Gibbons
    8
    57kg
    11 Silks
    Fangirl
    Chris Waller
    Kerrin McEvoy
    1
    57kg
    12 Silks
    Hinged
    Chris Waller
    Brenton Avdulla
    4
    57kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Think It Over
    Kerry Parker
    Nash Rawiller
    8
    59kg
    2 Silks
    Kolding
    Chris Waller
    Regan Bayliss
    7
    59kg
    3 Silks
    Top Ranked
    Annabel Neasham
    Hugh Bowman
    9
    59kg
    4 Silks
    Mount Popa
    Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
    William Pike
    13
    59kg
    5 Silks
    Angel Of Truth
    Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
    Jay Ford
    12
    59kg
    6 Silks
    Stockman
    Joseph Pride
    Sam Clipperton
    11
    59kg
    7 Silks
    Maximal
    John O’Shea
    Brenton Avdulla
    1
    58.5kg
    8 Silks
    Verry Elleegant
    Chris Waller
    James McDonald
    4
    57kg
    9 Silks
    Colette
    James Cummings
    Tim Clark
    3
    57kg
    10 Silks
    Montefilia
    David Payne
    Jason Collett
    5
    57kg
    11 Silks
    Hungry Heart
    Chris Waller
    Chad Schofield
    2
    57kg
    12 Silks
    She’s Ideel
    Bjorn Baker
    Rachel King
    6
    57kg
    13 Silks
    Duais
    Edward Cummings
    Joshua Parr
    2
    57kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Kolding
    Chris Waller
    Hugh Bowman
    2
    59kg
    2 Silks
    Avilius
    James Cummings
    Nash Rawiller
    7
    59kg
    3 Silks
    Southern France
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    Jason Collett
    3
    59kg
    4 Silks
    Master Of Wine
    Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
    Tommy Berry
    9
    59kg
    5 Silks
    Prince Nawaz
    Anthony Cummings
    Tom Marquand
    1
    59kg
    6 Silks
    Verry Elleegant
    Chris Waller
    James McDonald
    4
    57kg
    7 Silks
    Colette
    James Cummings
    Rachel King
    8
    57kg
    8 Silks
    Funstar
    Chris Waller
    Glen Boss
    5
    57kg
    9 Silks
    Toffee Tongue
    Chris Waller
    Brenton Avdulla
    6
    57kg

2024 Chipping Norton Stakes result


1stThink It Over (+750)
2ndFangirl (-2500)
3rdLindermann (+120)

Recent Verry Elleegant Stakes results

  • Nash Rawiller and Kerry Parker combined with Think It Over ($9.00) to secure victory in the newly named Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The now three-time Group 1 winner was given an elite steer by Rawiller pinching all the ground towards the inside running rail before fending off all rivals. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Just Fine ($11.00) ensured a genuine tempo throughout the 1600m journey, as the returning Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) winner strode forward under Regan Bayliss, knocking up badly in the concluding stages. After a dominant performance first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Fangirl ($1.30) was searching to justify the short quote, ridden with confidence at the rear of the field by James McDonald. She made a late charge in the shadows of the post when being unleashed down the centre of the course, but it was to no avail as Think It Over was already off and gone with the prize, overturning a three-length defeat from the Apollo Stakes. Lindermann ($15.00) and Cascadian ($21.00) were left to fight for the final spot in the top three, as the former was able to cling onto the minor money. It was all about the winner, however, as the incredible story of this warhorse eight-year-old continues to be written.
  • The superstar colt Anamoe has made it eight career Group 1 wins after destroying his rivals in the Chipping Norton Stakes. He was a little bit slower away than usual after box seating in the Apollo Stakes first-up but it simply didn’t matter as James McDonald pulled him out with 400m to go and rounded them up in dominant fashion. Fangirl cut the corner again just like in her first-up performance and gave her customary turn-of-foot to run into second. Mo’unga improved with a change of tactics electing to sit outside the leader, Knights Order who ensured a strong tempo throughout the 1600m. Laws Of Indices finished off nicely into fourth as well, with Hinged the luckless runner getting a massive check at the 300m before sticking to the task to run fifth. It was all about the champion colt though with his eighth Group 1 success for Godolphin and James Cummings to continue his reign as Australia’s best middle-distance galloper.
  • Verry Elleegant silenced any doubters she still had when adding an 11th Group 1 win to her name when claiming the Chipping Norton Stakes for a second year in a row. Having been challenged by rank outsider She’s Ideel with a 100m to go, the star mare under James McDonald managed to dig deep and gripped on to claim victory by a narrow margin. The win handed superstar trainer Chris Waller a 10th win in the race, claiming a sixth Chipping Norton in the last seven years and a 10th in the last 12 years.
  • Wins do not come with much more heart or grit than what Verry Elleegant had to produce to take out the 2021 Chipping Norton Stakes. Aided by a perfect steer from James McDonald, Verry Elleegant had a fight on her hands to hold out Colette, Avilius, Funstar and Kolding where the was less than a length seperating the first five across the line and under half a length between the trifecta. The win handed Chris Waller his fifth winner in six years in the race and has taken out nine of the previous 11.
  • It was a barnstorming finish that helped the Jamie Richards trained Te Akau Shark claim a second Group 1. The Shark was circling the field at the top of the straight and despite Verry Elleegant looking the winner at the 200m mark, Opie Bosson got to work and hit the front with 50m to go to take out the Chipping Norton
  • It was meant to be a formality for Winx heading into her fourth Chipping Norton Stakes and while on paper it was a procession an enterprising ride on the second placed Happy Clapper certainly made it interesting. Blake Shinn speared the Clapper out to an early lead and rode the horse hard to lead by a long margin. The leader pinched a huge break, but of course the mare was good enough to run him down and stride away to record yet another Group 1 win.
  • It was expected to be a stroll in the park for Winx in her third attempt at the Chipping Norton and the mare obliged to those who took the short odds. While she didn’t jump all that well Winx travelled well throughout and streaked away from the field untouched. Prized Icon battled well into second while long-shot Classic Uniform injected some value into the trifecta.
  • 2017: There were a few punters which doubted whether Winx could win in the wet conditions, but the champion mare put those doubts quickly to bed. It cruised around the field to post an easy victory where it never left second gear. Race rival Hartnell was left three-wide and flat footed into the straight and the only horses making ground were stayers. The win gave Winx 15 consecutive wins and back-to-back Chipping Norton Stakes successes. Read full report.
  • 2016: Winx continued on its unbeaten run 2016 when taking out the Chipping Norton Stakes by 1.5 lengths. The champion mare settle near the back of the field before starting a searching run nearing the corner. It easily found the front in the straight before pulling away from the likes of Dibayani and Hauraki. Winx would continue through its 2016 campaign without suffering a defeat.
  • 2015: Contributer scored the prize for the many punters which took the $2.50 on offer. The John O’Shea-trained import burst onto the scene in 2015 and it continued its winning way by taking out the Chipping Norton over stablemate Hartnell. The five-year-old held on by a half-length over Hartnell which was making its Australian debut and although the rest of the field was made up by long-distance staying types, the win was one of Contributer’s career highlights.
  • 2014: Boban scored a minor upset in 2014 when downing $1.90 favourite It’s A Dundeel. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was paying $4.75 so a good run was expected, but after It’s A Dundeel hit the front in the straight many punters thought the race was over. Boban kicked strongly on the outside and pulled away for a one length victory. Waller also trained the third-placed Hawkspur and Moriarty which finished in fourth.
  • 2013: Chris Waller scored his second consecutive win with Shoot Out in 2013. The six-year-old was always well-favoured in the betting which was the case here. The Hugh Chaparral gelding paid $4 for the win with Hugh Bowman in the saddle and the ride was perfection. Shoot Out sustained a long run after settling back and it nabbed Monton right on the line to win by a nose. The disappointing effort in the race came from $5.50 chance Manighar which finished 11th.
  • 2012: Shoot Out scored the first of its two Chipping Norton Stakes victories in 2012 and it did it in style. The five-year-old settle near the pace before pouncing at the 300m where it put two lengths on the chasers in quick time. The $5 win chance defeated stablemate Danleigh and Trusting to secure a good result for punters. The only disappointment was from $2.38 favourite Pinker Pinker which ran sixth.


Verry Elleegant past winners list

Chipping Norton Stakes Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2024 Think It Over Nash Rawiller Kerry Parker
2023 Anamoe James McDonald James Cummings
2022 Verry Elleegant James McDonald Chris Waller
2021 Verry Elleegant James McDonald Chris Waller
2020 Te Akau Shark Opie Bosson Jamie Richards
2019 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2018 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2017 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2016 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2015 Contributer James McDonald John O’Shea
2014 Boban Glyn Schofield Chris Waller
2013 Shootout Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2012 Shootout Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2011 Danleigh Hugh Bowman Chris Waller
2010 Theseo Nash Rawiller Gai Waterhouse
2009 Tuesday Joy Corey Brown Gai Waterhouse
2008 Casino Prince Damien Oliver Anthony Cummings
2007 He’s No Pie Eater Zac Purton Graeme Rogerson
2006 Desert War Larry Cassidy Gai Waterhouse
2005 Grand Armee Danny Beasley Gai Waterhouse
2004 Starcraft Glen Boss Garry Newham
2003 Lohnro Darren Beadman John Hawkes
2002 Tie The Knot Patrick Payne Guy Walter
2001 Tie The Knot Patrick Payne Guy Walter
2000 Tie The Knot Shane Dye Guy Walter

Verry Elleegant Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000

Verry Elleegant StakesPre 2000 Past Winners
Year Horse
1999 Tie the Knot
1998 Encounter
1997 Octagonal
1996 Juggler
1995 Pharaoh
1994 Telesto
1993 Kingston Bay
1992 Super Impose
1991 Super Impose
1990 Dr. Grace
1989 Flotilla
1988 Wong
1987 Our Waverley Star
1986 Heat Of The Moment
1985 Rising Prince
1984 Emancipation
1983 Dalmacia
1982 Vivacite
1981 Prince Ruling
1980 Embasadora
1979 Leonotis
1978 Grey Affair
1977 In Pursuit
1976 Taras Bulba
1975 Apollo Eleven
1974 Igloo
1973 Apollo Eleven
1972 Latin Knight
1971 Gay Icarus

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