Lets Elope Stakes – 2021

Track: Good Weather: Overcast

A field of sixteen runners plus one emergency have accepted for the $300,000 Let’s Elope Stakes.  Cranbourne based trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young have a strong hand with three runners, while Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have two runners entered.  Two had their last run in the Cockram Stakes and two others met at Caulfield in a benchmark 90 on August 28.  The early favourite in the betting is Instant Celebrity.  She is one of two Group 1 winners in the field and resumed with a good third in the Cockram Stakes.  Next in the betting is Turaath.  She has won three in a row and likes to make her own luck up on speed.

We made Annavisto a black booker after her promising return at Caulfield a fortnight ago but she will need a good ride from John Allan to negate her wide barrier.  Still A Star and Mystic Journey both hail from Tasmania and are both resuming.  Zou Dancer gets an inform Damian Oliver third up, while Butter Chicken resumes off the back back of a lovely Cranbourne trial.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Instant Celebrity

Instant Celebrity has five wins from nine starts including the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes last preparation.  She hit the line well first up when third in the Cockram Stakes behind Probabeel.  Hard to beat here.

2. Mystic Journey

Group 1 winning mare who has been struggling to recapture her best form in recent times.  She is first up here, off the back of three trials and gets the blinkers.  Can she get back to somewhere near her best?

3. Quantum Mechanic

Resuming after a terrific Autumn Campaign.  She won the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley in March before going on to run third in the Coolmore Legacy Stakes at Randwick.  She is yet to win first up but has trialled up well and is drawn well.  In the mix.

4. Only Words

Chris Waller stayer resuming.  She needs further than 1400m.

5. Still A Star

Tasmanian mare who has nine wins and six seconds from sixteen starts.  The only time she has missed a place was in this years All Star Mile.  She was dominant winning a listed race at Caulfield at the end of last preparation and maps get a soft run on the fence here first up.  Can figure.

6. Rich Hips

Unleashed a powerful turn of foot to win a Group 3 at this track & distance last spring.  Expect them to ride her cold from the outside barrier and be saved for the last shot at them.  Roughie with a chance.

7. Chica Fuerte

Was placed in the Kewney here last preparation before going onto win the Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley.  Place chance at best.

8. Zou Dancer

Bolted in this track and trip in the Vanity Stakes in February, then ran well against the boys in the Australian Guineas.  Possible improver third up back onto her home track.

9. Tyche Goddess

Resumer who has two wins from ten starts.  She was safely held in the Australian Oaks at her last start.  Doubt she can feature here.

10. Annavisto – SCR

11. Ripper Rita

Lightly raced four year old mare trained by Greg Eurell at Cranbourne.  She boasts a win over Beau Rossa at Caulfield in April and has trialed up well leading into this.  In the mix.

12. Don’ttelltheboss

Has been up for a long time but continues to race well.  Consider for multiples.

13. Bonvicini

Five year old mare trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.  Two of her three wins have come fresh.  Place claims.

14. Turaath

Progressive mare who has won three in a row.  She bolted in here by 3.75 lengths two starts ago then, fought on strongly to win well again at Caulfield last time.  She is getting deep into her preparation now which is of some concern but she is going really well and can figure again here.

15. Impecunious

Linda Meech takes over the reigns on this four year old daughter of Sacred Falls.  She appeared to have every chance when fourth behind Alcyone at Sandown first up.  This is tougher.

16. Love Sensation

Is better than her record suggests (one win from eleven starts).  She hit the line well first up at Moonee Valley and has a bit of class about her on her day.  Wouldn’t shock to see her run a race here.

17. Butter Chicken (Emerg)

Resumes in her second preparation.  She was an impressive maiden winner at Pakenham earlier in the year before going onto run second over 18000m at Group 2 level.  Her recent Cranbourne trial was outstanding and while this is short of her best trip it wouldn’t shock to see her run a big race fresh.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
1. Instant Celebrity	1. Instant Celebrity
14. Turaath	5. Still A Star
5. Still A Star	6. Rich Hips
3. Quantum Mechanic	14. Turaath

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings: 10. Annavisto, 12. Don’ttelltheboss

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	14. Turaath
2nd	2. Mystic Journey	1.25 lengths
3rd	5. Still A Star	1.55 lengths
4th	16. Love Sensation	1.85 lengths