Graffard hits out after Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant misses out on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Star Australian mare Verry Elleegant will miss Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after an embarrassing episode for French racing which has left her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard fuming.

The 2021 Melbourne Cup winner had been shipped to Europe with the sole intention of an ambitious shot at the €5million (£4.5m) race. 

But with the seven-year-old looking like she would miss out on one of the berths in the 20-runner field, Graffard took the decision to run her instead in Saturday’s Prix de Royallieu on day one of the two-day Arc meeting at Longchamp.

Star Australian mare Verry Elleegant will miss Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

French rules do not allow horses to be entered in two races and Graffard feared he might be left high and dry if he gambled on drop-outs creating an unexpected opportunity in the Arc.

His ire is particularly directed at the French handicapper. Verry Elleegant would have made the Arc field on the form rating she achieved in Australia, where she has won nine Group One races.

But the French assessor has dropped her 7lb after two runs in his jurisdiction — most recently finishing third in the Prix Foy — a decision which looks premature given her record and an allowance for transitioning to the northern hemisphere.

Graffard said: ‘I’m very angry at my racing country and I have to apologise to all the Australian racing fans.’

The prospects of Verry Elleegant taking up her entry in the Fillies & Mares Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15 have now increased.

Also out of the Arc is outsider West Wind Blows, trained by Ed and Simon Crisford, who have opted to run their colt in Saturday’s Prix Dollar instead.