French handicapper defends controversial mark for Verry Elleegant

France Galop's chief handicapper has defended the rating of 113 which has led to Verry Elleegant missing Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, saying that none of his international colleagues would have given her a higher mark.

Trainer Francis Graffard said he felt "ashamed" for the treatment of the 11-time Group 1 winner after he was left with no choice but not to supplement her for the Arc on Thursday morning, with little realistic chance of Verry Elleegant making it inside the 20 horse limit on the rating given to her following two runs in France.

Eric Le Guen, who is France's representative on the board of international handicappers, said the direction of travel had been clear through Verry Elleegant's six runs this year, and that she had not achieved a sufficient rating in any of her four starts in Australia with Chris Waller since winning the Melbourne Cup.