Trainer Peter Morgan has revealed that talented filly Eloping will start her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.
Eloping took out the Royal Randwick Stakes during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
Eloping was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing fourth in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 10 at the end of her lengthy juvenile campaign and Morgan told Racing Victoria that he was relatively happy with the condition of the Choisir filly when she returned to his Whittlesea-based stable.
“We’re really happy with her,” Morgan said.
“She spelled ok, she always looks after herself, and I think she’s grown a bit, so yeah we’re really happy.
“Her first goal will be the Group 3 Champagne Stakes at the Valley at the end of September.”
Eloping showed plenty of early speed in her two-year-old campaign and was kept to races at 1200 metres or shorter, but Morgan is hoping that the rising three-year-old may be able to get over a trip as an older horse.
Morgan said that Eloping will be included in the nominations for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) that will be run at Caulfield on October 11, but will access the performance of his star galloper in the Champagne Stakes before making any decisions about her major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target.
“There’s not that many sprint races for fillies during the spring,” Morgan said.
“They’re pretty light on, so we might have to tackle open company with her.
“I’ll be tempted to push her beyond 1200m no doubt, but at this stage we’ll just take the Champagne Stakes as it comes.
“If she doesn’t come-up well, or if she’s just an autumn filly, then we’ll give her a break and come back in the autumn.”
Eloping made her racing debut with a win in the BJC Members Celebration Maiden (900m) at Bendigo on December 22 before making her black type racing debut with a win in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on January 25.
The two-year-old finished second behind Earthquake in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8 and failed to fail in the Listed Sports 1000 (1000m) at Flemington on March 1, but returned to winning form in the Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo on March 15.
Eloping was far from disgraced when seventh in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and returned to winning form in the Group 3 Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m) on April 19 before finishing her campaign in the Champagne Classic.
Eloping is currently available at 2014 Thousand Guineas odds of $41 with Ladbrokes Australia.
