Melbourne Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Boughey Boost as Hoo Ya Mal Handed Leger Mission Before Shipping to Australia

An exciting career awaits in Australia but, before Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) joins Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott down under, he will be prepared by George Boughey for an ambitious tilt at the St Leger at Doncaster.

Trained by Andrew Balding to split Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Epsom, Hoo Ya Mal was subsequently snapped up by his new connections for a whopping £1.2million at the Goffs London Sale.

While races like the Melbourne Cup are what Hoo Ya Mal was bought to run in, his new owners feel there could be unfinished business in Britain, and have entrusted Boughey with training the colt for the final Classic of the year at Doncaster.

Boughey told SBK, “It's very exciting to have a horse like Hoo Ya Mal in the yard. His work has been good and we are looking at the Gordon S. next before a possible tilt at the St Leger, before he heads to Australia with Gai Waterhouse for the Carnival out there.”

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Verry Elleegant Set To Begin European Campaign In Prix Rothschild

Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) could make her first European start in August as her new trainer Francis-Henri Graffard revealed he is considering a bid for the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville.

A sensation in Australia, Verry Elleegant won 11 Group 1 races–including the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup–under the care of Chris Waller before it was announced in May that she would continue her career in France.

The G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the G1 Fillies & Mares Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot were mentioned as possible targets when Verry Elleegant was transferred to Graffard's base.

However, Graffard is keen to take the wraps off Verry Elleegant in the Prix Rothschild before committing to plans beyond Deauville.

He said, “She is well, she might be ready for the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Aug. 2. That will be her first start and then we will take it from there.”

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Verry Elleegant Joins Graffard for Euro Campaign

G1 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will join Francis Graffard in France with a view towards targeting the major races in Europe this season, the connections of the Australian ace have announced.

An 11-time Group 1 winner, Verry Elleegant has netted her connections over £8 million and was described by Chris Waller, the man who managed her glittering career in Australia, as an “honour” to be associated with.

The statement from the ownership group was released on Thursday, and it read, “Being part of a champion racehorse is not just an enormous privilege but also a huge responsibility.

“We take this seriously and in the last couple of weeks have given further thought to what constitutes the right plan for our beautiful mare. We know she's a world-class stayer but we expect her to be weighted out of the Cups and there are limited options for her domestically.

“After much deliberation, we came to the realisation that if we want to campaign her in Europe, we need to do it properly and send her to be trained and prepared in the Northern Hemisphere.”

A tilt at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is understood to be the main reason for sending Verry Elleegant to Graffard this season.

The statement added, “We're incredibly excited about the journey ahead and showcasing her on the world stage. We know win, lose or draw she'll do us, Australia and of course New Zealand proud.”

Graffard shared his excitement of taking over the training of Verry Elleegant on Twitter.

He said, “It is a huge honour to be entrusted with the 2021 Melbourne Cup winner and Champion race mare Verry Elleegant. I am conscious that I will be standing on the shoulders of a giant in taking her on from Chris Waller, who has done such an impeccable job with her.”

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Mission Is On For Melbourne Cup

Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) has survived a last-minute veterinary scare to be given the all-clear to line up for Tuesday's G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, for which he has drawn stall 14.

Trained by Andrew Balding, the 5-year-old was found to have swelling in a leg on Friday but has subsequently been passed fit by the Racing Victoria vets. With Craig Williams booked to ride, Spanish Mission is second-favourite for Australia's most famous staying contest behind the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise (Aus) (Shamus Award {Aus}).

The Peter Moody-trained favourite is in stall 16, while last year's winner Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), trained by Jospeh O'Brien, has drawn gate two and will carry top weight of the 24 runners.

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