Tough filly Eloping has had to call on all her strength to claim another stakes win in the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.
In the process the Choisir filly edged past the $1 million prize money mark when she captured Wednesday’s Listed 1200m race to set up a possible trip to Perth.
loping, Stephen Baster
On the speed throughout, Eloping, ridden by Stephen Baster and sent out the $3.50 favourite, scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Sultry Feeling ($9.50) with Husson Eagle ($5.50) three-quarters of a length away third.
Eloping, a last start winner of the Group Three Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 26, jumped cleanly from barrier two but was forced to work with Tudor to her inside.
She eventually wrestled the lead away from Tudor and Baster asked Eloping to extend.
For a few strides she looked to be in trouble, but she gathered herself to charge to the line to record a winning time of 1:09.54secs, into a head wind.
Co-trainers Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison echoed each others thoughts when they said they had never been involved with a filly that was so tough.
“She looked like she was a bit gassed there for a little while but she kicked like she usually does,” Morgan said.
“She’s just an amazing horse.”
“She’s never been sore. Never went shin sore, never been joint sore. Only thing she’s ever had she strained a hamstring in her early days.”
Morgan said plans were still to be finalised for the filly.
He said they range from running in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 1, a three-year-old fillies race at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week or venturing to Western Australia for the Group One Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on November 22.
“We’re looking at the Coolmore, but that may be a bit strong for us,” Morgan said.
“There’s a fillies race at the same carnival and we have thought about Western Australia. There’s a $750,000 race and if the travel arrangements are made properly then we’ll go there.”
Baster said Eloping was so brave after having to work early in the race and said he hoped for continuing dry conditions when next she stepped out.
“Look at the time she ran and I think she did it pretty easily,” Baster said.
“They don’t run her down. Hopefully it stays dry and she’ll be hard to run down in whatever she runs in.”
