ENGLISH-BRED mare Turaath gave Warrnambool trainer Maddie Raymond her first group two success, winning the $300,000 Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Turaath, with Damian Lane in the saddle, was having only her sixth Australia start for Raymond when she defeated Mystic Journey by more then a length with Still A Star back in third place in the 1400-metre race.
Raymond labelled Turaath, who has won her last four metropolitan starts a very tough mare.
"Turaath is a tough, fit, honest mare," she said. "She didn't do it easy today. She sat out wide with no cover and was rock hard fit and super competitive.
"She eats well, she thrives off her work and she showed that today."
Turaath is now eligible for a $1 million bonus, if she wins the $1 million group one Empire Rose on Derby Day.
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"We'll just take her home and see how she pulls up before making our mind up about future starts," Raymond said. "We'll have a chat with the owners of Turaath before finalising our plans."
Turaath has won more then $370,000 in stakemoney from her 13 starts.
Fellow Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams produced Harbour Views to salute in a $160,000 listed race over 1400 metres. From his 15 starts Harbour Views has won seven races.
The win gave top jockey Damian Lane the middle leg of a winning treble. Lane's other winners were Tooradin and Turaath.
Meanwhile, Ciaron Maher trained three of the winners on Saturday's nine-race program.
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, were successful with Tooradin, Crystal Bound and Floating Artist.
The Winslow training export was also excited with the performances of Sir Dragonet and Away Game in filling minor placings in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Bobbie Lewis Quality.
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