The Lets Elope Stakes is a Group 3 race for mares held at Flemington racecourse annually each September during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1400 metres and worth $200,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Lets Elope Stakes was won by Pinker Pinker from Mid Summer Music with Parables third.
Named after former champion mare 'Let's Elope', the race was previously a listed event known as the 'Milady Stakes' up until 1994 before becoming a Group 3 race in 2005. It was afforded Group 2 status in 2009 and takes place on the same day as the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes.
The Lets Elope Stakes is a race for mares only and the set weight & penalty conditions of the race favours the more talented females entered for the event. Those females with higher average prizemoney and better race records typically rise to the occasion and are generally in the money.
A capacity field of above average mares usually contest the Lets Elope Stakes and they may have come via a race such as the Gr3 Cockram Stakes held earlier in the carnival at Caulfield and may then consider going on to a race like the Gr3 How Now Stakes at Flemington on Underwood Stakes day.
Pinker Pinker (2011) finished fifth in the Cockram Stakes prior to winning this race and recent Lets Elope Stakes winners include No Evidence Needed (2010) and Cats Whisker (2009).
Spring Carnival Guide
Response (2nd in 2010) went on to win the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield and turned the tables on No Evidence Needed (2010) who finished second in the same race.
Cats Whisker (2009) won the Cockram Stakes prior to winning this race, she then ran second in the Gr2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley before continuing on with her great form to take out the Gr2 Blazer Stakes at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes day.
2011 Lets Elope Stakes result
1. $6.50 Pinker Pinker 56.5 G Boss
2. $6.00 Mid Summer Music 55.5 B Melham
3. $3.40 Parables 56.5 K McEvoy
then followed
4. $18.00 Lady Lynette 56.5 N Hall
5. $12.00 Do Ra Mi 56.5 L Nolen
6. $13.00 Keep The Peace 56.5 J McDonald
7. $61.00 Windarra Place 53.5 S King
8. $51.00 Venus World 53.0 Ms M Payne
9. $11.00 Biancon Rose 53.5 C Williams
10. $101.00 Willow Creek 55.5 C Symons
11. $8.00 Zaira 53.0 D Dunn
12. $151.00 Melted 53.0 S Baster
13. $26.00 Majestic Music 57.5 Ms C Lindop
14. $61.00 Barinka 55.5 Ms L Cropp
15. $71.00 Zelsnitz 54.5 J Benbow
16. $21.00 Brazilian Pulse 57.5 M Rodd
Margins: neck, len Time: 1:23.80
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