Without a doubt Let's Elope is the greatest mare of all time. She won the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double in 1991. Her Melbourne Cup win must rate as one of the most devastating wins in the history of the great race. After lying 17th at the 600 metre mark she had the race won at the 200 metre mark leaving behind her one of the best cup fields of the modren era. Horses that finished out of a place included Super Impose, Sydeston, Castletown, Just A Dancer, Dr Grace and Lord Reviner. The runner up was the aspiring champion, stablemate Shivas Revenge. The time was a brilliant 3.18.9.

Her greatness was confirmed the Saturday before the cup in the LKS Mackinnon when she trounced the legendary Super Impose at WFA. After completing the Cups double she returned first up over the sprint distance of the CF ORR to defeat the top class middle distance horse Prince Salieri in track record time. Her final win was the Australia Cup where she clashed with her stablemate Shivas Revenge who had won the Chester Manifold And Blamey stakes in brilliant time. The race was built as the rematch of the Melbourne Cup. Many punters and experts were claiming that Shivas Revenge was a better horse.This race would decide once and for all who was the better. In the run Let's Elope was last of the nine horses with Shivas Revenge forth. Shivas Revenge made his move at the 800 three wide to join Stylish Century and DR Grace. AS they straightened at the 400 shivas Revenge moved up to tackle the leader which was now Prince Salieri. Let's Elope was still back last with Darren Beadman taking her to the extreme outside giving Shivas Revenge four lengths start.AS Shivas Revenge hit the front 350 from home the great mare set out after her champion stablemate. So quickly did she sprint that by the 150 she'd raced a length clear and by the end had won by 3and a half lengths with Prince Salieri a futher 1and a half lengths back third. The win set a new track record of 2.oo for the Flemington 2000. Let's Elope had settled the argument once and for all. During her record breaking year she won in succession the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup, LKS Mackinnon, Melbourne Cup, CF ORR, ST George and finally the Australia Cup.

The master Bart Cummings rated her the best mare he ever trained which says a lot considering he trained Light Fingers, Leilani and Lowland. In fact Bart rates her second only to Galilee in the horses he has trained. Her staying ability was evident in the Melbourne Cup whilst her acceleration was evident in the Australia Cup and LKS Mackinnon.Let's Elope who has since died during her stud duties in America will never be forgotten. The daughter of Nassipour will always remain in the memory to those who saw her.

DAVID WATERS.