Verry Elleegant Renews Rivalry With Addeybb in Ranvet

Round three of Verry Elleegant's clash with Addeybb may have been delayed by seven days, but ahead of the rearranged March 27 Ranvet Stakes (G1) connections of the 12-time winner already have their eyes on further battles with some of Europe's best.

Part-owner Brae Sokolski harbors ambitions for the mare to head to France and tackle the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp in October, and he revealed March 22 that the rest of the ownership group are warming to the idea.

"They are lofty ambitions we have for her on the global stage, but the time will be absolutely right for her," Sokolski told Racing.com.

"She'll be a 6-year-old mare at the peak of her powers going to her best distance and likely on a suitable wet surface.

"There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there (Europe), because it is not a well-worn path we will be taking. It's something we've got to put into action ourselves to create our own path and, while that makes it more challenging, it is also more exciting."

The possibility of Verry Elleegant turning up in Paris for the first Sunday in October has not gone unnoticed by British and Irish bookmakers, and she is quoted at between 33-1 and 66-1 for Europe's most valuable prize.

Early ante-post market leaders, at a best-priced 10-1, are Love and Tarnawa, both of whom might have contested the race last year but didn't, for reasons of unsuitable ground—a contaminated feed issue subsequently beset Aidan O'Brien's intended runners anyway—and the alternative of the Prix de l'Opera (G1), respectively.

Addeybb Needs to Pass Veterinary Inspection Before Second Ranvet Bid

Addeybb will have to pass a veterinary inspection if he is to defend his crown in the Ranvet Stakes.

The 7-year-old was assessed by Racing New South Wales vets after completing light work at Canterbury the morning before the race, and they deemed him to be slightly lame in the near foreleg.

A statement by stewards read: "The stable advised that the mild lameness is due to the gelding being recently plated, and they are confident the lameness will be resolved by Saturday morning as the gelding has displayed similar tendencies after being plated."

Addeybb, set to be partnered by Tom Marquand, landed the Ranvet Stakes last season from the reopposing Verry Elleegant before winning the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick in April.

He then finished second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) for trainer William Haggas before winning the listed Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup at Ayr and ending his season landing the Qipco Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot.