Verry Elleegant can move closer to securing Horse of the Year honours as defending champ Nature Strip commences a late season surge to retain the coveted crown.

Ratings Expert Gary Crispe Tells Ray Thomas This Year’s Cox Plate Winner Can Pull Off A Rare Big-Race Double.

Crispe insists now is not the time to lose faith in Nature Strip’s prospects.

Verry Elleegant can break a jinx on older mares that stretches nearly three decades in the Group 1 $5 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

There are five Gloaming Stakes runners, four Victorian raiders, three out of the provincials and two fillies from the Flight Stakes.