Eloping Records Front-Running Silk Stocking Victory

Eloping returned to her brilliant best to lead from start to finish in the 2016 Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast this afternoon.

Tegan Harrison went straight to the front on Eloping in the early stages of the Silk Stocking and she opened up a clear lead at the 400 metre mark from Miss Cover Girl.

Eloping and Miss Cover Girl had a big lead on the rest of the field when they entered the home straight and the rest of the field was unable to catch them, with Eloping proving too strong for her rival in the final stages of the race to record a very impressive Silk Stocking victory.

Trainer Peter Robl revealed after the race that the original plan was to send Eloping to Adelaide for the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m), but he thought she may struggle in a race of that quality and he was thrilled that his decision to set her for the Silk Stocking had paid off.

It was Robl who made the decision to book Tegan Harrison to take the ride on Eloping in the Silk Stocking because of her excellent record on mares and he was quick to pay credit to the way she rode the four-year-old.

“She is a great mare on her day and she has been racing well,” Robl said.

“The original plan was to go to Adelaide for the Group 1, but I just thought that it was too hard a race, so we came here where she had two starts over the Magic Millions period and raced well both times.

“I know it was probably a little bit out of left field putting Tegan on, but I just thought she was a jockey that would suit the mare and it was good.

“Mares seem to run for her and they tend to keep running for her, so I thought that it was the right call to put her on.

“I am glad it worked out.

“We haven’t really put anything in concrete and she will probably have three weeks between runs.”

Eloping’s race win was her first since she took out the 2014 edition of the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield as well as her maiden win for the Robl stable.

Miss Cover Girl returned to a semblance of her best form to finish second, while Zestful made up good ground late for third.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.