Expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald is excited for the season ahead with dual Group One winner Verry Elleegant after her two recent trials in Sydney.

The Chris Waller-trained mare created quite a following last season after her heroics in autumn, taking out the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

“She was very good last preparation and hopefully she can take that to weight-for-age and be competitive in those bigger races,” McDonald said.

The daughter of Zed has impressed McDonald in her two recent trials and he is looking forward to riding her in her raceday resumption, which is likely to be the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next Saturday.

“She is going excellent,” he said. “She has developed a little bit since her last preparation, but not a hell of a lot.

“She was always a fine, petite sort of filly. Now that she is a mare, she has come back in really good order.”

McDonald is pleased that she has settled in her trials, something she had a tendency not to do last season.

“She is relaxing very well in her trials,” he said. “She has got to do that on race day as well, but I have no qualms with her doing that.”