WA mare Alsephina heading to Melbourne to tackle Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes

WA mares have won the past two editions of the Let’s Elope Stakes and trainer Grant and Alana Williams will send Alsephina east in a bid to continue that streak in at Flemington on Saturday.

Alsephina has the task of completing a hat trick of wins for WA mares in Saturday’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington.

Perth form has prevailed in the past two editions of the $300,000 feature. Amelia’s Jewel won the 1400m contest at her Melbourne debut last year while Kissonallforcheeks prevailed in 2022 after being transferred to the Nick Ryan stable.

Both Amelia’s Jewel and Kissonallforcheeks had performed well in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) before heading east, as did Alsephina.

The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Alsephina ran second to Bustler in last year’s Railway Stakes before finishing less than two lengths from Dom To Shoot in the Northerly Stakes.

Alsephina is a $15 chance in TAB’s ‘all-in’ market on the Let’s Elope Stakes but Alana Williams said the six-year-old had thrilled the stable with her work leading up to her Melbourne debut.

“She’s been progressively improving with fitness,” she said.

“We’re pretty happy with her now and her gallops have been really good.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how she goes in that grade.”

A thriller to the finish but Alsephina makes it a 2nd stakes victory on the trot (9 from 11 overall) in the Group 3 Mrs Macs La Trice Classic over 1800m at Ascot. Alsephina is by @VineryStud’s Star Turn from the Perth stakes winner Delta Gee. pic.twitter.com/1Co1B202cD

— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) January 1, 2023

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Williams said the winner of nine of 16 starts would be on a flight to Melbourne on Tuesday night, adding the stable was keen to see how the daughter of Star Turn measured up in the eastern states.

“I think her best form is good enough and we think we have got her going really well,” Williams said.

“It will be good to see how she measures up against different horses”

Wrote To Arataki will miss the Let’s Elope Stakes after being treated for a virus. The Warrnambool mare produced a promising first-up effort behind Quintessa in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on August 31 but trainer Matthew Williams said he had adopted a cautious approach with the mare.

"Quintessa's a class above!"

The G1-winning mare returns in fine style & takes out the G3 Cockram Stakes 🔥@TeAkauRacingpic.twitter.com/FOlnHQwgIQ

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 31, 2024

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“Her white cells are back under control but a couple of other things were just a bit out,” Williams said.

“It’s too early in her prep to risk it and I can back right off and give her another course of treatment now rather than wait until later in the week and check her again.

“We’ll see her again at Flemington in the first week of next month then the Tristarc at Caulfield.”

Originally published as WA mare Alsephina heading to Melbourne to tackle Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes