The clear favourite to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup this November, Bart Cummings’ Dariana is set to resume racing this Saturday in the $200,000 Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Four-year-old Redoute’s Choice mare Dariana last raced back in June when she claimed an impressive win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Still the $13 favourite in the [sportsbet] markets for the $6 million Melbourne Cup after receiving a lightweight of 51.5kg when the Melbourne Cup weights were released yesterday, Dariana is also likely to start as the favourite in Saturday’s Let’s Elope Stakes despite drawing wide in barrier 10.
The 2010 Let’s Elope Stakes has attracted a final field of 14 classy mares with other top chances including the David Hayes-trained Irish Lights and the top four placegetters in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) with winner Rhythm In Paris drawn ideally on the rails, runner-up Response out wide in barrier 11 and third and fourth placegetters Lady Lynette and No Evidence Needed.
There is lot’s to love about the Flemington Races scheduled for Saturday, as more Melbourne Cup hopefuls will be on display in the $400,000 Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
For the best odds on the Let’s Elope Stakes visit Australia’s premier online betting site [sportsbet] today and discover a world of free bets, better prices and bigger payouts!
2010 Let’s Elope Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Weight (kg) | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IRISH LIGHTS | David Hayes | Steven Arnold | 4 | 56.5 | 100 |
| 2 | DARIANA | Bart Cummings | Damien Oliver | 10 | 56.5 | 106 |
| 3 | SMALL MINDS | John P Thompson | Dean Holland | 5 | 56.5 | 94 |
| 4 | MY EMOTION (NZ) | Michael Kent | – | 3 | 56.5 | 94 |
| 5 | LADY LYNETTE | Robert Smerdon | Nicholas Hall | 8 | 55.5 | 102 |
| 6 | RESPONSE | M Ellerton & S Zahra | Craig Williams | 11 | 55.5 | 95 |
| 7 | SILENT SURROUND | William Smart | Simon Price | 14 | 54.5 | 86 |
| 8 | RHYTHM IN PARIS | Jason Warren | Ben Melham | 1 | 54.5 | 93 |
| 9 | NO EVIDENCE NEEDED | John P Thompson | James Winks | 12 | 53.5 | 90 |
| 10 | TWO HILLS | Allen Browell | Darren Gauci | 13 | 53.5 | 90 |
| 11 | MONT FLEURI | Lee Freedman | Dwayne Dunn | 2 | 53.5 | 87 |
| 12 | BELIEVE ‘N ACHIEVE | Mark Kavanagh | Michael Rodd | 9 | 53.5 | 94 |
| 13 | TONIC | Darren Weir | Steven King | 7 | 53 | 86 |
| 14 | LIVE IN SIN | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 6 | 53 | 82 |
