VERRY ELLEEGANT OWNERS OFFER $10M FOR MATCH RACE

Straight off the back of another runner up appearance in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes the ownership group of Verry Elleegant are out for revenge believing the best horse didn’t win.

Unfortunately though for the racing population it looks as though any match race idea is already a non starter after Haggas confirmed the offer had come to late this time around.

It was an early morning call that got the ball rolling with Brae Sokolski, part owner of Verry Elleegant calling William Haggas at his Newmarket base and offering the champion trainer the chance to participate in a $10m match race.

Addeybb has had the upper hand on Verry Eleegant in the past two years and the current record between the two read 3-1 in favour of the British runner. However it was the result this year that didn’t sit well with Sokolski and the owners.

“Nothing went right for us and while I normally cop it on the chin this time I wasn’t convinced,” Sokolski said.

“I thought why not have a crack, and see what William had to say about a match race.

“He gave me time and listened respectfully, we talked for a good while and he actually said he loved the idea but it was going to be too hard this time around.

“His jockey Tom Marquand was already heading home and the horse was in the throes of getting out of the country as well.

“William said with a bit more notice he may well have been on board and he would certainly have given it plenty of thought.

“We proposed each team putting up five million dollars and the winner took the ten (million).

“It wasn’t like we were prepared to just throw money away, we honestly believe Verry Elleegant would beat Addeybb if they went head-to-head.

“It also didn’t help with the carnival going back a week as it shortened preparation time for Addeybb going back for Royal Ascot.”

Sokolski also confirmed during the interview that plans for Verry Elleegant hadn’t been confirmed yet but they had one eye on the Cox Plate as well as the Arc in France. 

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