Our talented European import Wootton Verni recaptured his best form at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, March 28th, securing a dominant victory in the Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).
Stepping back in grade to rebuild his confidence after a testing start to the autumn, the Chris Waller-trained gelding relished the Soft 7 conditions. Ridden perfectly by jockey Tommy Berry, Wootton Verni tracked the leaders comfortably before proving simply too good for his rivals, letting down strongly at the 400m mark to score an easy two-and-a-half-length victory over Caviar Heights and Portland.
Trainer Chris Waller praised the horse’s resilience and acclimatisation: “Wootton Verni found some great form in the spring, and being rock-hard fit with a bit of give in the ground today, he showed the others up.”
Purchased out of Europe by Hubie de Burgh for Sir Owen Glenn, this latest performance reaffirms Wootton Verni’s elite middle-distance credentials on Australian soil following his previous spring successes in the Coongy Cup and Rosehill Gold Cup.
Congratulations to Sir Owen and all co-owners on another fantastic Group-race success! Wootton Verni may just be the horse to deliver Sir Owen the holy grail of a Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup success.
