Let’s Elope Stakes 2026 Betting Odds & Race Preview

Let’s Elope Stakes Betting

Let’s Elope Stakes betting markets are traditionally led by the class mares in the race with good lead-up form in a race like the Cockram Stakes.

Kissonallforcheeks (3rd in 2022) and Pondalowie (8th in 2026) are the latest Let’s Elope Stakess winner to come out of a lead-up run in the Cockram/Courtza Stakes at Caulfield.

Proven Group 1 performers, those with a good Flemington track record and mares with winning form over 1400m – 1600m also dominate the Let’s Elope Stakes odds each year.

Upsets are not uncommon in the Let’s Elope Stakes and often laying the favourite can prove profitable, like in 2017 when Sword Of Light scored an upset at Let’s Elope Stakes odds of $18 and in 2020 when Pretty Brazen saluted at $20.

There was another upset in 2024 with Grinzinger Belle saluting by four lengths as a $15 outside in Let’s Elope Stakes betting. 

One of the biggest boilovers occured in 2026 with Pondalowie exploding late out of nowhere to snatch victory at Let’s Elope Stakes odds of $51!

Kissonallforcheeks ($3.60 in 2022), Amelia’s Jewel ($1.95 in 2023) and Lazzura ($2.05 in 2025) are the latest Let’s Elope Stakes betting favourites to win.

Let’s Elope Stakes Field

The Let’s Elope Stakes race field attracts a line-up of the season’s best mares, many heading towards the Empire Rose Stakes back at Flemington over the mile in November. Runners from Sydney may come off an earlier spring run in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Randwick, a double achieved by Amicus in 2015.

The main Melbourne lead-up into the Let’s Elope is the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) held the month before. The next traditional run for mares out of the Let’s Elope Stakes field is the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Moir Stakes Night.

In 2011 the Let’s Elope winner Pinker Pinker finished second in the Stocks Stakes before heading to Sydney where she was runner-up in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and then won the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) back in Melbourne.

More recently in 2017 I Am A Star improved on a lead-up seventh in the Let’s Elope Stakes to win the Stocks Stakes. She then won the following year’s Let’s Elope – Stocks Stakes double (2018).

Alsephina (3rd in 2024) was the last Let’s Elope graduate to go on and win the WH Stocks Stakes. 

2026 Let’s Elope Stakes Field

The official Let’s Elope Stakes 2026 Final Field & Barriers are out the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

The 2026 Let’s Elope Stakes final field features a class line-up of mares including the Ciaron Maher-trained Salty Pearl coming off a third fresh in the Group 3 Courtza Stakes, Dan O’Sullivan’s resuming proven Flemington performer Too Darn Discreet chasing a hat-trick and her airborne stablemate Gold Coast Belle who is yet to run out of the top two in seven career starts.

2026 Let’s Elope Stakes Nominations

Let’s Elope Stakes nominations for 2026 close on the Monday of race week and will be provided in full below.

Let’s Elope Stakes Form Guide

The Let’s Elope Stakes form guide gives punters all the must know information on the race and its runners like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs. A Cockram Stakes run last time out and ability at Flemington are key pointers to look out for in the form guide.

Let’s Elope Stakes form has stacked up in better races plenty of times over the years. In 2013 Dear Demi (7th) went on to run third in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as well as running second in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) that spring.

Also, in 2013 the Let’s Elope Stakes runner up Catkins went on to run second to stablemate Red Tracer in the Myer Classic later that campaign.

In 2020 the upset Let’s Elope Stakes winner Pretty Brazen ran a next-up third in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, while the runner-up Arcadia Queen further franked the form running third in the Underwood before winning both the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in the subsequent weeks.

The 2022 Let’s Elope Stakes form was franked with the winner Kissonallforcheeks travelling to Perth that summer to run third in both the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and lucrative Group 3 $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m).

The Let’s Elope Stakes form from 2025 stacked up beautifully the following autumn, with classy mare Lazzura returning in 2026 to capture the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.

2026 Let’s Elope Stakes Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Let’s Elope Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Past Let’s Elope Stakes Results

A mix of single and double-figure runners have won the Let’s Elope Stakes in the past decade, and the most notable recent upsets were by Pretty Brazen ($20 in 2020) and Pondalowie ($51 in 2026).

Noteworthy Let’s Elope Stakes winners include Amelia’s Jewel (2023), Commanding Jewel (2013-14), Pinker Pinker (2011), and Mannerism (1992).

Spanish Whisper holds the current Let’s Elope Stakes race record winning over 1400m in 2019 in a time of 1 minute 22.23 seconds.

Recent Let’s Elope Stakes Winners

Recent Let’s Elope Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.

FAQs

How do I bet on the 2026 Let's Elope Stakes?

Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android app with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at Ladbrokes. The process is quick and easy!
Once you’ve created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods.
Next up, head to the racing page and find the runner that’s right for you.

Which horse will win the 2026 Let's Elope Stakes?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Let's Elope Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors).
Check out Ladbrokes in the lead up to the race for full form information.

When is the Let's Elope Stakes 2026?

The 2026 Let's Elope Stakes is set to run at Flemington on Saturday September 12 at the start of the Melbourne Spring Carnival on Makybe Diva Stakes Day. It is scheduled as Flemington Race 9 at 4:55pm (AEST) as the penultimate event on the 10-race card.

What is the prize money for the Let's Elope Stakes 2026?

The 2026 Let's Elope Stakes prize money is set at $300,000 which is paid from 1st to 8th place including $180,000 going to the Let's Elope Stakes winner.

Where is the Let's Elope Stakes 2026?

The 2026 Let's Elope Stakes is set to run a Melbourne's famous Flemington Racecourse, home to many iconic races including the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November annually, which is located at 448 Epsom Road, Flemington, VIC.

What distance is the Let's Elope Stakes run over?

The Let’s Elope Stakes is run over 1400 metres, a trip that consistently suits mares with a strong turn of foot and proven Flemington form. This distance is a key factor in Let’s Elope Stakes betting, with punters often favouring runners who can build momentum and finish powerfully down the long Flemington straight.

How many horses run in the Let's Elope Stakes?

The Let’s Elope Stakes generally attracts a field of up to 16 mares, depending on acceptances and spring programming. It’s usually a competitive line‑up, which keeps Let’s Elope Stakes betting markets lively as punters look for value among proven Group performers and fresh spring contenders.

Who won the 2026 Let's Elope Stakes?

The 2026 Let's Elope Stakes was won in a huge upset by six-year-old Deep Field mare Pondalowie at $51 for trainers Emma-Lee & David Browne with jockey Lachlan Neindorf aboard on 55kg from barrier 8 to explode late and win by 0.06 lengths in a time of 1:22.78 on a Good (3) track.

Who won the 2025 Let's Elope Stakes?

The 2025 Let's Elope Stakes was won by four-year-old Snitzel mare Lazzura at $2.05 favouritism for trainer Chris Waller with jockey James McDonald aboard on 57.5kg from barrier 6 to win by 0.2 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:22.86.