Let’s Elope Stakes

Home > Races > Let’s Elope Stakes

The 2018 Let’s Elope Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne each September during the Spring Racing Carnival. It’s a mares only race which is contested over a 1400m journey with $200,000 in prize money to greet the winners at the end.

The race is named after Let’s Elope, a former champion mare in her own right. Up until 1994 it was a Listed race known as the Milady Stakes and in 2005 it was granted Group 3 status. The Group 2 rating wasn’t achieved until 2009 when prize money was lifted to the current level.

The Let’s Elope Stakes is run under set-weight with the more proven race horses usually succeeding in the event.

Runners can come to the race from a few lead up events with the main one being the Group 3 Cockram Stakes held three weeks earlier at Caulfield Racecourse. Well performing mares have the option of moving from this event to another Group rated race, the Group 3 How Now Stakes on Underwood Stakes Day also at Flemington.

2009 champion Cats Whisker completed the Cockram Stakes, Let’s Elope Stakes double before running second in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley and then returning to Flemington to win the Group 2 Blazer Stakes on Turnbull Stakes Day.

Some of the best winners of the Let’s Elope Stakes include 1992 winner Mannerism, 2003  winner Ain’t Seen Nothin and 2010 winner No Evidence Needed.

2018 Let’s Elope Stakes Field

The Let’s Elope Stakes field usually attracts a range of horses from different racing backgrounds. The Let’s Elope Stakes field races over 1400m, making it an ideal event for horses stepping up and stepping down in distance. As the event is open only to mares, you tend to get a range of horses from interstate and very occasionally from overseas.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x477100x43 I AM A STAR (NZ) Shane Nichols Ben Melham 13 58kg – 106
2 1x311161x4 BELLA MARTINI Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Dwayne Dunn 14 58kg – 93
3 73211x209x PAYROLL Shawn Mathrick Brett Prebble 5 57kg – 102
4 x31164x60x QUILATE Michael Kent Ethan Brown (a) 3 57kg – 95
5 x701003310 MISS GUNPOWDER David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Craig Williams 11 55kg – 100
6 1311214x0x KENEDNA Darren Weir Brenton Avdulla (late alt) 2 55kg – 93
7 720x2220x8 SAMOVARE David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Jordan Childs 12 55kg – 97
8 6126x55x41 MERRIEST Danny O’Brien Damien Oliver 7 55kg – 94
9 90x446x5x1 LA BELLA DIOSA (NZ) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Regan Bayliss 1 55kg – 104
10 56x687x580 JENNIFER LYNN John McArdle Jamie Mott 8 55kg – 76
11 0x121216x1 MRS GARDENIA (NZ) Darren Weir Dean Yendall 4 55kg – 92
12 5x4542223x SHEEZDASHING Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra Damien Thornton 6 55kg – 88
13 x32446x3x4 PETITION Anthony Freedman Jye McNeil 9 55kg – 89
14 1510×30251 BELLARIA (NZ) Darren Weir Damian Lane 10 55kg – 91

2018 Let’s Elope Stakes Nominations

The 2018 Let’s Elope Stakes nominations will be made public on Monday, September 10th. The 2018 Let’s Elope Stakes nominations will be provided below.

No. Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x477100x43 I AM A STAR (NZ) M 5 Shane Nichols 1 58kg – 106
2 1x311161x4 BELLA MARTINI M 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 2 58kg – 93
3 4x650610x0 SPECIAL ALERT M 4 Andrew Noblet 3 58kg – 78
4 73211x209x PAYROLL M 6 Shawn Mathrick 4 57kg – 102
5 x31164x60x QUILATE M 6 Michael Kent 5 57kg – 95
6 x701003310 MISS GUNPOWDER M 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 6 55kg – 100
7 1311214x0x KENEDNA M 5 Darren Weir 7 55kg – 93
8 720x2220x8 SAMOVARE M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 8 55kg – 97
9 90x446x5x1 LA BELLA DIOSA (NZ) M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 9 55kg – 104
10 6126x55x41 MERRIEST M 5 Danny O’Brien 10 55kg – 94
11 56x687x580 JENNIFER LYNN M 5 John McArdle 11 55kg – 76
12 0x121216x1 MRS GARDENIA (NZ) M 5 Darren Weir 12 55kg – 92
13 0x85313336 MOONLOVER M 5 Matt Laurie 13 55kg – 82
14 5x4542223x SHEEZDASHING M 4 Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra 14 55kg – 88
15 x32446x3x4 PETITION M 5 Anthony Freedman 15 55kg – 89
16 9×64436541 SPANNER HEAD M 5 Archie Alexander 16 55kg – 80
17 1510×30251 BELLARIA (NZ) M 5 Darren Weir 17 55kg – 91

Let’s Elope Stakes Winners & Results

Winners and placers in the Let’s Elope Stakes since 2000 with winning times.

Year Results Winning Time
2018 1 TBD 2 TBD 3 TBD TBD
2017 1 Sword of Light 2 Swampland 3 Lovani 1:23.5
2016 1 Don’t Doubt Mamma 2 Thames Court 3 Manageress 1:24.5
2015 1 Amicus 2 Precious Gem 3 May’s Dream 1:23.0
2014 1 Commanding Jewel 2 Dear Demi 3 Nautical 1:23.6
2013 1 Commanding Jewel 2 Catkins 3 A Time For Julia 1:23.1
2012 1 Zurella 2 Hi Belle 3 Total Attraction 1:23.4
2011 1 Pinker Pinker 2 Mid Summer Music 3 Parables 1:23.8
2010 1 No Evidence Needed 2 Response 3 Live In Sin 1:26.8
2009 1 Cats Whisker 2 Romneya 3 Symphony Miss 1:25.0
2008 1 Mimi Lebrock 2 Bellini Rose 3 Devil Moon 1:28.2
2007 1 Devil Moon 2 Eskimo Queen 3 Bellini Rose 1:23.4
2006 1 Rewaaya 2 Be Delicious 3 Celtic Bloom 1:24.2
2005 1 Dea 2 Timbourina 3 Catscan 1:23.3
2004 1 Beautiful Gem 2 Galvanized 3 Demerger 1:24.4
2003 1 Ain’t Seen Nothin 2 Classic Patches 3 Reactive 1:24.4
2002 1 Purple Groove 2 Tickle My 3 Crimson Gem 1:24.9
2001 1 Flushed 2 Miss Power Bird 3 Lolita Star 1:24.5
2000 1 Tickle My 2 Love’s Choice 3 Monterosso 1:28.4

Horses

Jockeys

Trainers