Let's Elope Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The Let's Elope Stakes is a Group 2 event for mares four years old and above held each year at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. The 1400 meter race is run under set weight and penalty conditions with $200,000 in prize money offered by the Victoria Racing Club.  Free $200 Bet

The Let's Elope Stake has been on the racing calendar since 1987. From 1987 to 1993, it was known as the Milady Stakes, after which it was renamed after former champion and Melbourne Cup winner, Let's Elope. It remained a Listed Race till 2005 when it was elevated to Group 3 and achieved Group 2 status in 2009.

Usually held in early September, as part the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, The Let's Elope Stakes is a race which fancies the more talented females where those who have better race records and higher average prize money are usually the one's that place. The race attracts a capacity field of above average mares, arriving from many other races throughout the country. Past races have shown a greater tendency of mares coming in from the Group 3 Cockram Stakes, held three weeks earlier at Caulfield Racecourse.

Mares who place well in the Let's Elope Stakes usually consider competing in the Group 3 How Now Stakes, held at Flemington on Underwood Stakes day. Some of the most successful mares that have won the Let's Elope race have gone on to claim major races on the Australian racing circuit. Cats Whiskers in 2009 won the Cockram Stakes and went on to win the Let's Elope Stakes. She then went ahead and competed in the Group 2 WH Stocks Stakes where she placed second. In her next outing she won the Group 2 Blazer Stakes, on Turnbull Stake's day at Flemington. Pinker Pinker, who finished fifth in the 2011 Cockram Stakes, won the Lets Elope Stakes in the same year and went on to place 2 nd in both the Group 2 Stoke Stakes and the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, followed by an impressive win in the prestigious Group 1 W S Cox Plate.

No Evidence Needed who won the Let's Elope Stakes in 2010, also placed 2nd in both her next races in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and the Group 2 Blazer Stakes. Other winners who have blazed the tracks after winning the Let's Elope Stakes, include the 1992 winner Mannerism, who has the Mannerism Stakes named after her in 1994, and the 2003 winner Ain't Seen Nothin.

2011 Lets Elope Stakes

Pinker Pinker was promoted to a midfield position right from the start, and moved further forward to take the lead a long way out. This didn't faze the mare, who showed plenty of determination to stick with it and see off the chasers, going to the post just a neck ahead of Mid Summer Music while Parables was a length back in third.

2011 Lets Elope Stakes result

1. Pinker Pinker
2. Mid Summer Music
3. Parables

Then came:

4. Lady Lynette
5. Do Ra Mi
6. Keep The Peace
7. Windarra Place
8. Venus World
9. Biancon Rose
10. Willow Creek
11. Zaira
12. Melted
13. Majestic Music
14. Barinka
15. Zelsnitz
16. Brazilian Pulse