Verry Elleegant Stakes Race Information

The Verry Elleegant Stakes (previously named the Chipping Norton Stakes) is a 1600 metre weight-for-age race run by the Australian Turf Club. The race is held in late February or early March at Warwick Farm or Randwick during the Autumn Racing Carnival.

  • Race Type: Group 1
  • Distance: 1600 metres
  • Conditions: Open WFA, 3YO & upwards
  • Track: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales
  • Prizemoney: $1,000,000
  • Date: Saturday 2 March 2024

Verry Elleegant Stakes Race History

See the 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2023 Chipping Norton Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2022 Chipping Norton Stakes Preview and results.

The Chipping Norton Stakes is the first Group 1 race for the calendar year in Sydney and was traditionally the only race day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival held at Warwick Farm. From 2016 it has been held at Randwick. The race dates back to 1925 and the first winner had the interesting name of Wallace Mortlake.

From 1925 to 1972 the race was held over 10 furlongs (about 2000 metres) and was increased to 2100 metres from 1973 to 1979 until in 1980 it changed to the present distance of 1600 metres. It was held at Randwick in 1992, 2001, 2008 and 2009 and has been a Group 1 race since 1986.

In 2024 the Australian Turf Club renamed the race from the Chipping Norton Stakes to the Verry Elleegant Stakes after the great mare died on 18th February 2024 while giving birth (the foal also died). The Chris Waller-trained mare won the 2021 Melbourne Cup and the 2020 Caulfield Cup and she won this race in 2021 and 2022.

The Group 2 Apollo Stakes over 1400 metres is often used as a lead-up race to the Chipping Norton, and winners of the Chipping Norton are exempt from ballot in both the Doncaster and the Sydney Cup. Horses aiming for the Doncaster will often have their next start in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Verry Elleegant (2022)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – He’s No Pie Eater (2007); Filly – Heat Of The Moment (1986)

Multiple winners: Verry Elleegant (2021 & 2022); Winx (2016, 2017 & 2018); Shoot Out (2012 & 2013); Tie The Knot (1999, 2000, 2001 & 2002); Super Impose (1991 & 1992); Apollo Eleven (1973 & 1975); Tulloch (1958 & 1960); Carioca (1953 & 1955); Carbon Copy (1949 & 1950); Katanga (1944 & 1945); Lough Neagh (1933, 1936 & 1937).

Fastest time (1600m): Winx (2019) 1:33:27

Interesting trivia: In 1946 Bernborough beat champion mare Flight in one of the most publicised clashes of the time.

Past winners of the Verry Elleegant Stakes

Some greats of the Australian turf have won the Chipping Norton and in 1946 the great Bernborough beat champion mare Flight in one of the most publicised clashes of the time. Past winners include Phar Lap, Tranquil Star, Comic Court, Tulloch, Sky High, Rain Lover, Gay Icarus, Emancipation, Our Waverley Star, Super Impose, Lonhro and Octagonal. Tie The Knot won the race four times in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Year Winner Second Third
2024 Think It Over Fangirl Lindermann
2023 Anamoe Fangirl Mo’unga
2022 Verry Elleegant She’s Ideel Angel Of Truth
2021 Verry Elleegant Colette Avilius
2020 Te Akau Shark Verry Elleegant Fierce Impact
2019 Winx Happy Clapper Unforgotten
2018 Winx Prized Icon Classic Uniform
2017 Winx Lasqueti Spirit Who Shot Thebarman
2016 Winx Dibayani Hauraki
2015 Contributer Hartnell He’s Your Man
2014 Boban It’s A Dundeel Hawkspur
2013 Shoot Out Monton Danleigh
2012 Shoot Out Danleigh Trusting
2011 Danleigh Centennial Park Sacred Choice
2010 Theseo Rangirangdoo (NZ) Danleigh
2009 Tuesday Joy Vision And Power Gallant Tess
2008 Casino Prince Tuesday Joy Sniper’s Bullet
2007 He’s No Pie Eater Desert War Mentality
2006 Desert War Eremein ` Ike’s Dream
2005 Grand Armee Court’s In Session Winning Belle (NZ)
2004 Starcraft (NZ) Ambulance Gentle Genius
2003 Lonhro Shogun Lodge Dress Circle (NZ)
2002 Tie The Knot Freemason Universal Prince
2001 Tie The Knot Dottoressa Referral
2000 Tie The Knot Adam Staging
1999 Tie The Knot Forgotten Hero Darazari
1998 Encounter On Air Filante
1997 Octagonal Juggler Dupain
1996 Juggler March Hare The Penny
1995 Pharaoh Air Seattle Big Dreams
1994 Telesto Clearly Chosen Burst
1993 Kingston Bay Kinjite Planet Ruler
1992 Super Impose Quick Score Kinjite
1991 Super Impose Royal Creation Dr. Grace
1990 Dr. Grace Lygon Arms Billy Asset
1989 Flotilla Beau Zam Research
1988 Wong Bonhomie Rajamah
1987 Our Waverley Star Diamond Shower Abit Leica
1986 Heat Of The Moment Handy Proverb Indian Raj
1985 Rising Prince Eastern Bay La Caissiere
1984 Emancipation Trissaro Mr. McGinty
1983 Dalmacia Chiamare Bianco Lady
1982 Vivacite Rio De Janeiro Just A Dash
1981 Prince Ruling Red Nose Ring The Bell
1980 Embasadora Sonstone Just A Steal
1979 Leonotis Diamond Cutter Fying Flag
1978 Grey Affair Belmura Lad Marceau
1977 In Pursuit Our Cavalier Hot Land
1976 Taras Bulba Leica Lover Analight
1975 Apollo Eleven Jandell Kia Maria
1974 Igloo Asgard Gala Supreme
1973 Apollo Eleven Gunsynd Selene Girl
1972 Latin Knight Hampton’s Pride Regal Rhythm
1971 Gay Icarus Arctic Symbol Bluelough
1970 Great Exploits Regal Rhythm Tails
1969 Rain Lover Roman Consul Lowland
1968 General Command Regal Rhythm Arctic Coast
1967 Striking Force Duo Farmer’s Daughter
1966 Prince Grant Craftsman Finders Keepers
1965 Bon Filou Count Radiant Craftsman
1964 Maidenhead General Delivery River Seine
1963 The Dip Sky High Stipulate
1962 Sky High Dhaulagiri New Statesman
1961 Valerius Scottish Inn Val Putt
1960 Tulloch Trelios Macdougal
1959 Caesar Lord Ark Royal
1958 Tulloch Baron Boissier Prince Darius
1957 Mac’s Amber Sailor’s Guide Redcraze
1956 Somerset Fair Roman Holiday Prince Delville
1955 Carioca Finito Gallant Archer
1954 Gallant Archer Tarien Hydrogen
1953 Carioca Advocate Hydrogen
1952 Delta Hydrogen Dalray
1951 Comic Court Grey Boots
1950 Carbon Copy Dickens Vagabond
1949 Carbon Copy De La Salle Bruce
1948 Fresh Boy Valiant Crown Silent
1947 Vigaro Sweet Chime Golden Souvenir
1946 Bernborough Flight Russia
1945 Katanga Flight Accession
1944 Katanga Moorland Mayfowl
1943 Veiled Threat Yaralla Katanga
1942  ** Race not run **
1941 Tranquil Star High Caste Beau Vite
1940 Reading Mosaic Dashing Cavalier
1939 Defaulter Spear Chief The Trump
1938 John Wilkes Apollo Doncaster
1937 Lough Neagh Allunga Barramul
1936 Lough Neagh Hall Mark Silver Ring
1935 Rogilla Hall Mark Sarcherie
1934 Silver Scorn Closing Time Blixten
1933 Lough Neagh Kuvera Rogilla
1932 Ammon Ra Nightmarch Johnnie Jason
1931 Chide Veilmond Tregilla
1930 Phar Lap Amounis Nightmarch
1929 Strephon Limerick Winalot
1928 Limerick Don Moon Rionscup
1927 Amounis Limerick Windbag
1926 Windbag The Night Patrol Pantheon
1925 Wallace Mortlake Windbag Lilypond

From the archives:

Chipping Norton Stakes Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Soft    Weather: Fine

There are only nine runners for the $600,000 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes and three of them are trained by Chris Waller. The odds-on favourite is super mare Winx who won this race in 2016 and 2017. She hasn’t started since the Cox Plate in October but won her latest trial by a big margin. Second favourite is Prized Icon who was 4th in the Apollo Stakes last start while third favourite is Stampede who ran 6th in the Apollo but generally improves second-up.

The other six runners are currently all over $40 and include Lasqueti Spirit who was 2nd in this race last year and whose only win was the Group 1 Crown Oaks at a price of 100 to 1. Who Shot Thebarman ran 3rd last year but is the rank outsider here. The favourite should be too good for them but is at very short odds, so this is a race to watch and enjoy the return of the champion.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
7 Winx
4 Prized Icon
6 Jemadar
5 Stampede