Eloping To Contest Rubiton Stakes

Co-trainer Peter Morgan has confirmed that Eloping will take on the older horses in the 2015 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield this weekend.

Eloping will return to the races in the 2015 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Eloping will return to the races in the 2015 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Eloping was included in the nominations for both the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m), but Morgan told Racing Ahead that he believes the speedy filly is much better suited to the weight-for-age conditions of the Rubiton Stakes than the set weights plus penalties conditions of the Kevin Hayes Stakes.

The Choisir filly performed well when she took on the likes of Lankan Rupee and Angelic Light in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at the start of her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and Morgan feels that the Rubiton Stakes will give him a good indication on how the three-year-old will fare in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28.

“We are very happy with her and she will go to the Rubiton Stakes, we are taking on the older horses,” Morgan said.

“Going to the McEwen I didn’t have her quiet fit and she ran a good race.

“She would have 58 and a half against the fillies at 1200 and I think that 1100 will suit her better with 52 and a half, so we have elected to go there.

“Saturday and then the Oakleigh Plate is our plan at this stage, but after that we are not sure.”

Eloping took part in an exhibition gallop with leading Blue Diamond Stakes contender Fontiton at Sandown   on Saturday and the talented fillies both impressed onlookers with the way that they worked; with the duo completing their final 400 metres in 22 seconds.

Morgan said that Eloping had come through the strong gallop in excellent condition and he is happy with the condition of the talented filly heading into the Rubiton Stakes.

“She is very good, it was the same as usual she always does everything the same,” Morgan said.

“We are very happy with her.”

Eloping has had 13 race starts since she made her racing debut in December of 2013 and has been a consistent performer at Stakes level; taking out the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m), $250,000 Gold Rush (1000m), Group 3 Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m), Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

The three-year-old will need to perform at her best to take out the Rubiton Stakes and is set to face the likes of leading sprinter Chautauqua, talented filly Oakleigh Girl, last start winner Tawteen and impressive trialer Atmospherical.

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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.