Sokolski thrilled with Dettori coup for Verry Elleegant
Verry Elleegant is edging closer to her European debut. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos via Getty Images“Frankie finally gets to ride a Melbourne Cup winner!”
This was the quip from Brae Sokolski, part-owner of Verry Elleegant, as he confirmed Frankie Dettori will ride his champion mare in her European debut later this month.
Verry Elleegant, winner of the 2021 Melbourne Cup and Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, is due to have her first run for new trainer Francis-Henri Graffard in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet (2000m) at Deauville on August 21.
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Dettori, the most famous jockey in world racing, has had a celebrated career in the saddle but the Melbourne Cup has proven frustratingly elusive.
He has ridden in the Flemington two-miler 17 times with seconds on Central Park (1999) and Max Dynamite (2016) his best results.
But Sokolski said it was a coup to secure Dettori to ride Verry Elleegant.
“We have the King (Dettori) and Queen (Verry Elleegant) combining – there is a real ‘romantic’ aspect to it,” Sokolski said.
“Frankie is getting towards the end of his career as our mare is, too.”
Brae Sokolski visiting Verry Elleegant at trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s training base at Chantilly. Picture: Supplied
Sokolski said Dettori won’t get an opportunity to ride Verry Elleegant before the Deauville race.
“Ideally, we would have him aboard her for her final serious gallop but it is not going to happen,” Sokolski said.
“But Frankie has the experience and Verry Elleegant is a much more mature mare now.
“As a young horse, she was difficult to handle but she is quite relaxed now so it should be an issue.”
Sokolski recently spent time at Graffard’s training base at Chantilly and reported Verry Elleegant has quickly adapted to her new training environment.
But Sokolski conceded a lot hinges on Verry Elleegant racing at her best in the Prix Jean Romanet.
“It is somewhat sobering because she has to perform now,” Sokolski said.
“Verry Elleegant is up to a middle distance and we know how good she is over this trip, she never runs a poor race.
“So, if she doesn’t perform then we are going to be confronted with a pretty stark decision very quickly – but this mare has always produced when it mattered.”
Verry Elleegant, winner of 11 Group 1 races and nearly $15m prizemoney, is now a seven-year-old mare and is in the twilight of her race career.
Frankie Dettori will ride Verry Elleegant. Picture: Alan Crowhurst-Getty Images
But Sokolski said the feedback from Graffard in recent days was very positive after plans to run Verry Elleegant first-up at 1600m earlier this month were aborted.
“Francis wasn’t sufficiently pleased enough with Verry Elleegant to run her before now, even last week he was a little bit reserved about how she was going,” Sokolski said.
“But I spoke with him yesterday (Tuesday) and he is absolutely thrilled with the mare. He believes he has got her on song for this first-up assignment. If she runs well, we are very much on track.”
Sokolski’s long-term aim is to run Verry Elleegant in Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at Longchamp in early October.