Verry Elleegant Stakes 2025 Betting Tips - Will Via Sistina bounce back?

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 26 Feb 2025 10:38

Alex Marsh 26 Feb 2025

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The Verry Elleegant Stakes features on Sydney's first Group 1 card of the year
Via Sistina is the current favorite for the 2025 edition
Ceolwulf is a strong contender, offering potential value

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Fangirl winning the Apollo Stakes on February 15. (Getty)

The Verry Elleegant Stakes (formely Chipping Norton Stakes) headlines the first Group 1 program of the calendar year in Sydney, running alongside the Surround Stakes.

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Tips
2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Field & Odds

Contested over the mile at Royal Randwick, this is a Group 1 WFA event and the winner is exempt from ballot for both the Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup later in the autumn.

At $1.90 with Betr, Via Sistina is favourite for the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes.

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Tips

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Best Bet - Via Sistina

It looked as though Fangirl would open up a bigger space on her rivals in the Apollo Stakes, as she had all the momentum, whereas Via Sistina was forced to chase after getting clear at the 200m.

The six-time Group 1 winner is suited up in distance here and with J-Mac back aboard second-up, will the gun hoop follow Lindermann across if she jumps cleaner this time around?

She has lost both second-up attempts in Australia, although the latest was on heavy ground via a fifth-of-eight finish in the Makybe Diva Stakes and she's been consistent either side of that.

The seven-year-old had trialled up well ahead of her February 15 return and while Fangirl finds another good set-up on her favourite track, Via Sistina can turn the tables.

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Next Best Bet - Ceolwulf

He held firm in the market despite having no prior first-up wins and that Apollo Stakes effort was a definite pass mark for Ceolwulf, who has won his last two starts over the Randwick mile.

The Joe Pride-trained galloper saluted under handicap conditions via the Epsom and the rise to WFA level proved issue, with a King Charles III Stakes triumph before being tipped out.

Pride Of Jenni, Tom Kitten and Fangirl were among the beaten brigade in his last Group 1 success and after just an even fresh run, Ceolwulf was a second-up winner last campaign.

He was allowed to find his feet early and settle off the speed in the Apollo Stakes, which will likely be the tactics once again, as the four-year-old has drawn the widest barrier.

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Value Bet - Fawkner Park

The first three market elects were quite easy for bookies to install in their respective positions. however, I thought Fawkner Park would be closer to the fourth line of betting.

Bolters odds are available for the son of Zoffany, who often doesn't impress at the trials and behind some sharp sprinters, I wouldn't judge him too harshly off his February heats at Rosehill.

It's important to keep Fawkner Park away from both wet tracks and Melbourne, with the import in the market for the Underwood Stakes prior to his fresh failure in the spring.

He was respected there off a brilliant Q22 triumph in Queensland, where he recorded a big win over 2200m and prior to that, he arguably should've won the Group 1 Doomben Cup.

2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes Field & Odds

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Odds
1	Ceolwulf (NZ)	Joseph Pride	Chad Schofield	9	59kg	$5.50
2	Zarakem (FR)	Ciaron Maher	Tim Clark	3	59kg	$29
3	Fawkner Park (IRE)	Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald	Tyler Schiller	2	59kg	$51
4	Arapaho (FR)	Bjorn Baker	Ashley Morgan	4	59kg	$81
5	Lindermann	Chris Waller	Nash Rawiller	7	59kg	$12
6	Land Legend (FR)	Chris Waller	Kerrin McEvoy	1	59kg	$67
7	Golden Path (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Tommy Berry	6	59kg	$51
8	Via Sistina (FR)	Chris Waller	James McDonald	8	57kg	$1.90
9	Fangirl	Chris Waller	Jason Collett	5	57kg	$3.30

Odds courtesy of Betr & correct on 26/02/2025.

Verdict

Verry Elleegant Stakes

Our tips for the 2025 Verry Elleegant Stakes are:

Via Sistina

To Win

$1.90 - 4 Units

The GOAT.

Ahead of the Game.

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Ceolwulf

To Win

$5.50 - 2 Units

The GOAT.

Ahead of the Game.

Join Australia's newest online bookmaker with code BETSAU and enjoy exciting new ways to bet. The app is among the fastest in the market. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

Bet at betr