Australian Horse of the Year Let's Elope (NZ) (Nassipour–Sharon Jane {NZ}, by Battle Wagon {GB}), a champion racemare who won both the G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Mackinnon S. in 1991, has died at the age of 29. Also a winner of the 1992 edition of the G1 Australian Cup, the chestnut passed away at Chris and Kathy Bakker's Lauriston Park Stud where she had been a resident for the last 18 years.
“She reached a fantastic age and went out on her own terms,” Chris Bakker told Racing And Sports. “It has been an absolute privilege to be associated with such an amazing horse for such a long period of time. She travelled the world and took her owners Dennis and Margaret Marks on a wonderful journey.”
Lets Elope raced in both Australia and America, winning 11 of her 26 starts and amassing over A$3 million in prizemoney. She finished first past the post in the GI Beverly D. S. in 1993 only to lose the race in the stewards' room. Let's Elope also excelled in her second career as a broodmare, producing six winners from six runners. These included Group 1 performer Ustinov (Aus) (Seeking The Gold) and 2014 G2 Adelaide Cup winner Outback Joe (Aus) (Elvstroem {Aus}).
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