The $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes is a Group 1 Sydney race run early during the Autumn Racing Carnival dominated in 2016-19 by glamour mare Winx who won her third by 7 lengths and record fourth in 2019 before retirement.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Results
- 1st: #8 Via Sistina
- 2nd: #9 Fangirl
- 3rd: #5 Lindermann
Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) News
- Via Sistina Wins 2025 Ranvet Stakes
- Via Sistina Wins 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes, Beats Fangirl and Lindermann
- 2025 Verry Elleegant Betting Update: Ceolwulf Scratched; Waller Mares Firm in Markets
- Via Sistina Heads 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Field & Odds
- Fangirl Goes Back-to-Back in Apollo Stakes 2025 Results
The Chipping Norton Stakes – renamed in 2024 as the Verry Elleegant Stakes – is a Group 1 weight-for-age race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. It is one of Sydney’s first Group 1 races of the year and offers $1 million in prize money as of 2024.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Results
- 1st: #8 Via Sistina ($1.60F)
- 2nd: #9 Fangirl
- 3rd: #5 Lindermann
Chris Waller has continued his dominance of the Sydney Group 1s training the Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 trifecta with the spring’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate champion, Via Sistina ($1.60F), saluting for the punters in a stunning return to the winners’ circle with a brave win over Fangirl in a fighting finish with Lindermann in third. Next-up options include the Ranvet or George Ryder Stakes on Golden Slipper Day with the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 12 calling.
Click here for the full story.
Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 Odds & Results
Tab Verry Elleegant Stakes (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
8. Via Sistina (8) J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
2nd
9. Fangirl (5) J: Jason Collett 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
3rd
5. Lindermann (7) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
4th
3. Fawkner Park (2) J: Tyler Schiller 59kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
5th
4. Arapaho (4) J: Ashley Morgan 59kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
6th
7. Golden Path (6) J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
||
|
7th
6. Land Legend (1) J: Kerrin McEvoy 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
8th
2. Zarakem (3) J: Tim Clark 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
Data retrieved: 16/05/2025 01:52:09 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
The Verry Elleegant Stakes is run over 1600m and is open to all horses aged 3 years and older.
It was renamed ahead of the 2024 as the Verry Elleegant Stakes in honour of Chris Waller’s brilliant mare and two-time winner of the race (2021-22), Verry Elleegant.
Sadly, Verry Elleegant ed away soon after when in foal for the first time but forever ed for the champion racehorse she was.
Run on Chipping Norton Stakes Day / Verry Elleegant Stakes Day in late February or early March, the best lead up race is the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) which is held two weeks earlier at Royal Randwick.
Winx completed the Apollo Stakes – Chipping Norton Stakes double twice in 2016 and 2017. Winx returned in the 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes first-up and recorded an incredible seven length win to become a three-time champion of the race. In her final preparation before retirement, Winx also completed the Apollo Stakes – Chipping Norton Stakes double in 2019.
Anamoe (2023) was the last horse to complete the Apollo Stakes – Chipping Norton Stakes double before the latter was renamed in 2024.
In 2025 trainer Chris Waller trained the same three horses to run the trifecta in both the Apollo Stakes (Fangirl, Lindermann, Via Sistina) and the Verry Elleegant Stakes (Via Sistina, Fangirl, Lindermann).
There are five other Group status acts on Chipping Norton Stakes Day / Verry Elleegant Stakes Day with the Surround Stakes (1400m) elevated to Group 1 status for the 2018 edition, Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m), and the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) all hosted by the Australian Turf Club (ATC).
The 2021 Chipping Norton Stakes was won by Chris Waller’s ill-fated Verry Elleegant, subsequent winner of that year’s Melbourne Cup and this race’s now namesake.
Verry Elleegant retired from racing a 16-time race winner and 11-time Group 1 champion from her 40 career starts for total prizemoney of nearly $14.9m. She ranks her fourth on the all-time list of prize money earners behind former stablemates Winx ($26.4m) and Nature Strip ($20.7m), and dual The Everest winner Redzel ($16.4m).
Waller won his 10th Chipping Norton Stakes with Verry Elleegant going back-to-back in 2022.
Anamoe franked the 2023 Chipping Norton Stakes form going on to win the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at his next start before a third in that year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes results. The form was further franked with the runner-up Fangirl also finishing second in the George Ryder ahead of her spring return that included wins in the Group 1 Winx Stakes and $5 million King Charles III Stakes.
Waller was denied an emotional 11th victory in the Verry Elleegant Stakes in 2024 with his odds-on favourite, Fangirl, running second to impressive upset champ Think It Over.
The 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Fangirl winning that year’s $1 million 7 Stakes in the spring.
Fangirl returned to run second in the Verry Elleegant Stakes results for the third straight year in 2025.
The 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes ran on Saturday March 1, 2025 in the opening Group 1 race meeting of the autumn in Sydney and saw Chris Waller train the trifecta with his Cox Plate champion Via Sistina ($1.60F) narrowly denying Fangirl with Lindermann third.
| Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday March 1, 2025 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1600m |
| Race Type: | 3YO+ Weight-For-Age |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $1,000,000 |
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 57kg | $1.60F | |||
| 2 | 9 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 0.36L | 5 | 57kg | $3.30 | ||
| 3 | 5 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 0.39L | 7 | 59kg | $11 | ||
| 4 | 3 | FAWKNER PARK (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 1.58L | 2 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 5 | 4 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ashley Morgan | 1.6L | 4 | 59kg | $61 | ||
| 6 | 7 | GOLDEN PATH (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Tommy Berry | 2.04L | 6 | 59kg | $31 | ||
| 7 | 6 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 5.01L | 1 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 8 | 2 | ZARAKEM (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Tim Clark | 7.44L | 3 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 1 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Betting
The latest Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 betting odds on the weight-for-age autumn hopefuls in the race formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and also published here at Races.com.au.
Te Akau Shark ($2.80 in 2020), the ill-fated Verry Elleegant ($2.30 in 2021 and $2.50 in 2022), Anamoe ($1.60 in 2023), and Waller’s 11th winner Via Sistina ($1.60 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Chipping Norton Stakes / Verry Elleegant Stakes betting to win.
In 2024 Fangirl went around as the odds-on favourite in Verry Elleegant Stakes betting at $1.30 but only managed to run second to $8.50 pop Think It Over.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES FORM GUIDE
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 Tips on the Sydney autumn Group 1 renamed this season from the Chipping Norton Stakes.
- To Win: #9 Fangirl ($3.10 at time of publish) – BET NOW
We sided with the returning Cox Plate champ Via Sistina fresh in the Apollo only to see her rolled by stablemate Fangirl when third. Now with Via odds-on second-up, Fangirl looks value again to beat her star stablemate home over the Randwick mile. No doubt Via Sistina is a beautiful mare, but at the 1600m think this Sebring six-year-old holds the advantage. See no reason to come off Fangirl after she had a length to spare fresh on the line in a stylish return. This is her pet track (19:7-3-3) including her 7 Stakes win here last September. She’s been runner-up in this race the past two years. Tipping her to go one better in a small field from barrier five.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Field
The Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) field features a host of smart autumn milers and is released on the Wednesday before the race.
The official 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes field and barriers are released on the Wednesday of race week and will be published below on the race previously known as the Chipping Norton Stakes.
The Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 final field features a small but top-class line-up of nine WFA hopefuls led by Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning mares Via Sistina and Fangirl who ran third and first respectively in the Apollo Stakes last start.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Update: Ceolwulf has been scratched due to an abrasion on his off-hind seeing favourite Via Sistina firm further in the markets. Click here for the full story.
Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 Scratchings:
- #1 Ceolwulf (9)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28x61211x4 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 9 | 59kg | 115 | ||
| 2 | 6x182x065x | ZARAKEM (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Tim Clark | 3 | 59kg | 114 | ||
| 3 | 41131x051x | FAWKNER PARK (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 2 | 59kg | 111 | ||
| 4 | x75x0451x5 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ashley Morgan | 4 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 5 | 6310x018x2 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 6 | 5x1x06138x | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 7 | 78511136×6 | GOLDEN PATH (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Tommy Berry | 6 | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 8 | 12x15111x3 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 57kg | 124 | ||
| 9 | x12x3163x1 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 5 | 57kg | 118 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) Nominations
Nominations for Verry Elleegant Stakes are taken the Monday of race week and will be updated in full below.
Nominations extended until 11:00am – 25/02/2025
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | H Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x75x0451x5 | ARAPAHO (FR) | G | 8 | Bjorn Baker | 110 |
| 2 | 2x966312x7 | ATISHU (NZ) | M | 7 | Chris Waller | |
| 3 | 28x61211x4 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | G | 4 | Joseph Pride | |
| 4 | x12x3163x1 | FANGIRL | M | 6 | Chris Waller | |
| 5 | 41131x051x | FAWKNER PARK (IRE) | G | 6 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 111 |
| 6 | 78511136×6 | GOLDEN PATH (NZ) | G | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 104 |
| 7 | 5x1x06138x | LAND LEGEND (FR) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | |
| 8 | 6310x018x2 | LINDERMANN | G | 5 | Chris Waller | |
| 9 | 110x27x88x | PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE) | M | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 110 |
| 10 | 12x15111x3 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | M | 7 | Chris Waller | |
| 11 | 6x182x065x | ZARAKEM (FR) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Chipping Norton Stakes / Verry Elleegant Stakes History
The Chipping Norton Stakes (now the Verry Elleegant Stakes) was a Group 2 race between 1980 and 1985 and was also occasionally run at Randwick where it will take place in 2017. Originally hosted at Warwick Farm Racecourse, the Stakes was won by Tie The Knot over four consecutive years from 1999 to 2002. Even the legendary Phar Lap won the Chipping Norton Stakes in 1930.
Other notable Chipping Norton Stakes winners before the race was renamed in 2024 include Danleigh (2011), Shoot Out (2012-13), and of course the world’s best mare Winx (2016-19) who posted four straight wins in the race including a seven-length romp home in 2018.
Chris Waller prepared his tenth Chipping Norton Stakes winner in 12 years with Verry Elleegant going back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.
Verry Elleegant, who was Horse of the Year in 2021-22, became the event’s namesake in 2024 when the Chipping Norton Stakes was officially renamed as the Verry Elleegant Stakes by the Australian Turf Club (ATC).
She would later away in February of 2024 in foal making for an emotional first running of the race now named in her honour.
In 2023 the previous spring’s Cox Plate hero Anamoe won the Chipping Norton Stakes as the $1.60 odds-on favourite.
Waller won the Verry Elleegant Stakes for the 11th time in 2025 with Via Sistina defeating stablemates Fangirl and Lindermann.
See below for the Chipping Norton Stakes / Verry Elleegant Stakes winners dating back to 2000.
Recent Chipping Norton Stakes / Verry Elleegant Stakes Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes |
1st | Via Sistina | 1 minute 33.62 seconds |
| 2nd | Fangirl | ||
| 3rd | Lindermann | ||
| 2024 Verry Elleegant Stakes |
1st | Think It Over | 1 minute 34.88 seconds |
| 2nd | Fangirl | ||
| 3rd | Lindermann | ||
| 2023 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Anamoe | 1 minute 34.99 seconds |
| 2nd | Fangirl | ||
| 3rd | Mo’unga | ||
| 2022 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Verry Elleegant | 1 minute 39.64 seconds |
| 2nd | She’s Ideel | ||
| 3rd | Angel Of Truth | ||
| 2021 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Verry Ellegant | 1 minute 35.49 seconds |
| 2nd | Colette | ||
| 3rd | Avilius | ||
| 2020 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Te Akau Shark | 1 minute 33.87 seconds |
| 2nd | Verry Elleegant | ||
| 3rd | Fierce Impact | ||
| 2019 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 33.27 seconds |
| 2nd | Happy Clapper | ||
| 3rd | Unforgotten | ||
| 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 34.92 seconds |
| 2nd | Prized Icon | ||
| 3rd | Classic Uniform | ||
| 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 40.37 seconds |
| 2nd | Lasqueti Spirit | ||
| 3rd | Who Shot Thebarman | ||
| 2016 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 33.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Dibayani | ||
| 3rd | Hauraki | ||
| 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Contributer | 1 minute 36.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Hartnell | ||
| 3rd | He’s Your Man | ||
| 2014 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Boban | 1 minute 38.2 seconds |
| 2nd | It’s A Dundeel | ||
| 3rd | Hawkspur | ||
| 2013 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Shoot Out | 1 minute 35.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Monton | ||
| 3rd | Danleigh | ||
| 2012 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Shoot Out | 1 minute 37.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Danleigh | ||
| 3rd | Trusting | ||
| 2011 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Danleigh | 1 minute 35.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Centennial Park | ||
| 3rd | Sacred Choice | ||
| 2010 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Theseo | 1 minute 37.45 seconds |
| 2nd | Rangirangdoo | ||
| 3rd | Danleigh | ||
| 2009 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Tuesday Joy | 1 minute 34.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Vision And Power | ||
| 3rd | Gallant Tess | ||
| 2008 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Casino Prince | 1 minute 36.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Tuesday Joy | ||
| 3rd | Sniper?s Bullet | ||
| 2007 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | He?s No Pie Eater | 1 minute 37.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Desert War | ||
| 3rd | Mentality | ||
| 2006 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Desert War | 1 minute 36.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Eremein | ||
| 3rd | Ike?s Dream | ||
| 2005 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Grand Armee | 1 minute 35.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Court?s In Session | ||
| 3rd | Winning Belle | ||
| 2004 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Starcraft | 1 minute 40.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Ambulance | ||
| 3rd | Gentle Genius | ||
| 2003 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Lonhro | 1 minute 37.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Shogun Lodge | ||
| 3rd | Dress Circle | ||
| 2002 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Tie The Knot | 1 minute 37.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Freemason | ||
| 3rd | Universal Prince | ||
| 2001 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Tie The Knot | 1 minute 35.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Dottoressa | ||
| 3rd | Referral | ||
| 2000 Chipping Norton Stakes |
1st | Tie The Knot | 1 minute 37.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Adam | ||
| 3rd | Staging | ||
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