Jockey breaks down in tears after death of ‘incredible’ racehorse Verry Elleegant due to complications giving birth

JOCKEY James McDonald broke down in tears after learning of the death of legendary racehorse Verry Elleegant.

The 2021 Melbourne Cup winner, aged eight, sadly passed due to complications giving birth.

McDonald was moved to tears when he learned of wondermare Verry Elleegant’s deathGetty

Tragically, the foal, who was by wonderhorse Sea The Stars, could not be saved either.

Verry Elleegant was three weeks overdue and at stud in Ireland.

McDonald was made aware of the awful news during a phone call with Brae Sokolski, the horse’s owner.

The jockey said: “When Brae rang me I was expecting to be told she had a beautiful colt or filly.

“We knew she was due very soon but to get that call she had lost her life, I couldn’t believe it at first.

“It brought tears to my eyes.”

Verry Elleegant was last seen on a racecourse running at Ascot’s Champions Day in October 2022.

She finished a well beaten ninth behind John Gosden’s Emily Upjohn in the Fillies & Mares Stakes.

That came just two weeks after she ran on Arc weekend – memorably being denied a run in the big race itself after the field was cut to 20 runners.

Verry Elleegant won 14 of her 39 races and amassed more than £8.1m prize money in all.

Her last win came in Australia at Randwick in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes almost two years ago to the day.

McDonald added: “I have so much to thank her for.”

Multi-millionaire owner Sokolski was devastated at the loss.

He said: “In racing we know how tough this sport can be and you brace yourself for tragedies like this but it is difficult to comprehend.

“This is such a tragic loss as it is the end of her family tree.

“I’m still coming to terms with what has happened.”

Chris Waller, who had been her trainer Down Under before she moved to Frenchman Francis-Henri Graffard for her races in Europe, released a statement.

He said: “We all saw the courage she had on the racetrack over many seasons, and she will never be forgotten by those close to her as well as the wider racing public who followed her career and loved her so much.”