Tough filly Eloping is set to back-up in the 2014 Gucci Stakes at Flemington this afternoon, but co-trainer Peter Morgan has revealed that she will head to the spelling paddock following the fifth run of her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
Eloping has the chance to return to winning form in the 2014 Gucci Stakes at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Eloping returned to racing with a brave third behind Angelic Light and Lankan Rupee in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 before she took out both the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26 and the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 15 in typically brave fashion.
The Choisir filly was not suited by the strong headwind that was present at Flemington on Saturday, but she was still able to finish a credible sixth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) after leading in the early stages of the race.
Morgan told RSN this morning that Eloping had recovered from her Coolmore Stud Stakes run extremely quickly and he is happy to give the three-year-old one more start in the Gucci Stakes before she is sent for a well-deserved break from racing.
“Things didn’t work out the other day when the headwind was pretty strong and she pulled up so good that I thought we may as well give her another run before she goes out for a spell,” Morgan said.
“She just pulls up the same every time and she went back to her stall on Saturday as if she hadn’t even gone around.
“She came home and did the same thing as usual and she appears to be in good order.”
Damian Lane will get the chance to reunite with Eloping in the Gucci Stakes for the first time since he steered her to a dominant six lengths victory in the VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo earlier this year.
Lane will be replacing regular hoop Stephen Baster, who was already committed to riding Tawteen in the Gucci Stakes, but Morgan confirmed that the change of jockey will not lead to a change of riding tactics on Eloping.
“We won’t be changing any patterns,” Morgan said.
“If she jumps well and begins well we will drift to wherever they want to go to.
“He wasn’t aware that we were going to run again, it was a bit of an afterthought, but Damian won on her one day at Bendigo, so we gave him the chance to ride her again.”
Eloping is currently available at 2014 Gucci Stakes odds of $5, while Tawteen remains a narrow favourite at a quote of $4.40.
