Verry Elleegant has won the 2021 Melbourne Cup, storming home to beat hot favourite Incentivise and Spanish Mission.
The Chris Waller-trained horse has become the first in Melbourne Cup history to win from barrier 18. It was the only barrier from which a horse had never saluted in The Great Race. The barrier was considered a cursed draw, but the curse is now broken.
Verry Elleegant has also become the first of her sex to win The Great Race since Makybe Diva won three in succession between 2003 and 2005.
Jockey James McDonald executed a brilliant ride on what’s now a 10-time group-one winner.
LIVE UPDATES: Verry Elleegant wins 2021 Melbourne Cup; Results as it happened
Verry Elleegant’s place among the greatest racehorses of all time is now firmly established, after her Melbourne Cup win in the 161st edition of the event followed last year’s Caulfield Cup triumph.
“I just can’t believe what’s just happened,” McDonald told Channel 10 moments after the victory.
“I never thought I would ever win one, you know. I always dreamed of winning one, but it’s so hard to win.
“I want to swear, I really do.”
McDonald spoke glowingly of Verry Elleegant.
“I love her to bits. She’s been so good to me,” McDonald said.
“She was relaxed out there. She was relaxed the whole way. When I looked at the 600 metres, I was blowing kisses to her the whole way.
“I don’t know. I just can’t believe what’s just happened.”
Brae Sokolski, part-owner of Very Elleegant, was elated.
“It’s extraordinary,” Sokolski said on Channel 10.
“I’m lost for words. That’s the most humbling moment of my life.
“Incentivise, obviously, he was the high horse. We thought he would win. But, jeez, we had so much faith in her, still. And at the 200-metre mark when I just saw those colours to the outside I knew the race was over because she just cruised into it.
“I’m the luckiest human being on the planet at the moment.”
Sokolski is also a part-owner of Incentivise and he made the effort to give him a shout-out, too.
“I’ll just briefly thank Incentivise because I don’t want to forget about him,” Sokolski said.
“He’s my other baby and he did us absolutely proud. He ran a phenomenal race and his time will come.”
Sokolski then had high praise for trainer Waller, who watched the Flemington race from Sydney.
“I’ll also thank the master, Chris Waller. What a performer (and) training performance. The guy is a freak,” Sokolski said.
“Chris, we couldn’t do this without you.
“It’s a testament to your training capability that we’re here on stage.”
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