Zahra to Partner with Verry Elleegant in Arc Bid

Although Verry Elleegant  is now in the care of French trainer Francis Graffard, it's an Australian jockey who will partner the superstar mare in the Oct. 2 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

An 11-time group 1 winner when trained by Chris Waller in Australia, Verry Elleegant will be reunited with Mark Zahra, who has ridden her three times. They formed a successful partnership during the 2020 Melbourne Spring Carnival with wins in the Tab Turnbull Stakes (G1) and the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (G1) before going on to finish seventh behind Twilight Payment  in the Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1).

The decision was made due to the unavailability of Christophe Soumillon, who is set to partner French Derby winner Vadeni , and of Frankie Dettori, who is booked to ride last year's surprise victor, Torquator Tasso .

Verry Elleegant heads into the Arc having been disappointing on her French debut in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1), but having shown more of her old self when beaten just over a length in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2) earlier this month.

Connections announced they were supplementing her for Longchamp's showpiece, for which she is currently priced between 25-1 and 40-1.

The Rich History of Australian Jockeys in the Arc

Much has been made of the rarity of a Southern Hemisphere challenge for the Arc, with So You Think  the most recent horse to attempt the feat when fourth in 2011, having been brought up from Australia to spend a season with Aidan O'Brien in Ireland. 

However, should Verry Elleegant triumph next Sunday, Zahra would become the 11th Australian-born jockey to add his name to the roll of honor. 

Either side of the World War II, many Australian champions tried their luck in Europe. Their talent runs like a constant thread through Longchamp history, dating to Frank Bullock, who won the very first running of the Arc in 1920 aboard Comrade and repeated the feat two years later on Ksar before his son-in-law Walter Sibbritt partnered Samos to victory in 1935.

Rae Johnstone won a pair of Arcs with Nikellora (1945) and Sica Boy (1954) before Scobie Breasley kicked off a golden decade for Australian jockeys when landing a first Arc for Irishman Vincent O'Brien with Ballymoss.

A year later, George Moore was awarded the race in the stewards' room after his mount, Saint Crespin, had dead-heated with Midnight Sun, while it was Pat Glennon who guided the mighty Sea-Bird to his crowning career success at Longchamp in 1965.

Bill Pyers triumphed on Topyo in 1967, while Bill Williamson closed out the 1960s with wins aboard Vaguely Noble in 1968 and Levmoss in 1969. 

Most of Zahra's compatriots were based in Europe, but in 1981 Gary Moore–who spent several seasons riding in France–flew in from Hong Kong to take the ride aboard Gold River for Alec Head after Freddy Head opted to choose Detroit. Gold River won at odds of 36-1, while Detroit finished out of the money.