Verry Elleegant Takes to European Stage in Romanet

In terms of a global audience there is one racing story that rises above all others on the international stage this weekend. 

The European debut of Australia's darling Verry Elleegant in partnership with Frankie Dettori in the Aug. 21 Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) at Deauville is a major event. This is not just for the impact it could have on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) picture, but because the very idea of taking last year's Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) heroine to the other side of the world rather than entertain her adoring public at the Melbourne Spring Carnival has filled endless column inches in Australia. 

Trainer Francis Graffard has been upbeat in his reports about the 7-year-old's progress since she arrived in Chantilly and is much happier with her form now than before what was originally scheduled to be her first start in the Aug. 2 Prix Rothschild (G1) over a mile. 

He said: "She's really picked up in the last three weeks and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to go to the races with her and with the wide draw and it being her first time in Europe, we'll probably see her finishing nicely."

Regarding the link-up with Dettori, Graffard added: "I saw him at Goodwood and I was looking for a top-class jockey for Verry Elleegant. He was available and is very excited by the prospect."

Verry Elleegant is the only group 1 winner in the line-up—she has 11 top-level successes to her name in Australia—and the biggest threat could come from stablemate Ebaiyra , who has made the frame in both the Hong Kong Vase (G1) and last month's Grosser Dallmayr Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1). 

Graffard said of the Aga Khan 5-year-old: "So far she's been a little bit shy of group 1 level but she's in good form. I've put some cheekpieces on her as she was a little bit caught out when they sprinted in Germany last time. She'll have her favored good ground."

Stoute Seeks First Romanet  

Eight of the 18 runnings of this race since its inauguration in 2004 have been won by fillies trained in Britain, but Sir Michael Stoute has yet to add it to his CV. 

Ville de Grace  is matched with Ebaiyra to the pound on their run in the Dahlia Stakes (G2) at Newmarket in May but will be making her belated group 1 debut after being withdrawn before the start of the Nassau.

"She had to have a stalls test after not going in at Goodwood but all is well with her," Stoute said. "She did very well in the second half of the season last year and is in good shape. It looks an open race."