John Sargent’s Group 1 performed mare Eloping has suffered an early blow in her bid to return to black-type winning form this week at Flemington coming up with the outside alley in a capacity G.H. Mumm Stakes 2015 field on Crown Oaks Day.

Eloping is the widest-drawn runner in Thursday’s 2015 GH Mumm Stakes at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

One of three Group features on the Oaks Day line-up this Thursday, November 5, the $200,000 Group 3 GH Mumm Stakes (1100m) for mares has attracted a full 20 starters plus an emergency runner.

Drawn the outside alley in the sprint with lots of work to do for her and jockey Glen Boss on the 59kg top weight as well is Choisir four-year-old Eloping who hasn’t won since last year’s Blue Sapphire over 12 months ago.

She is second-up on Thursday with two wins from her previous three second-up runs on the back of a close fourth to Dothraki in a Listed Sydney sprint from October 17, but had a far more favourable barrier four draw for her returning run.

Also out wide in the GH Mumm Stakes field and barriers this spring are the likes of the John Sadler-trained Japhils (20 into 19) who Craig Williams rides on the back of four top three Melbourne runs and who represents last year’s winning trainer, Darren Weir’s Danehill Dancer five-year-old Tuscan Sling (17into 16) who ran third to Vezalay in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) on Caulfield Cup Day, and Lumosty (16 into 15).

Prepared by Robert Smerdon, Fastnet Rock four-year-old Lumosty has won five of her 12 career starts so far including the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) last time out on October 17.

That was her first run since her brave third to Srikandi in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) and she has a top second-up record heading into Thursday of two wins and a third from three runs.

Lumosty’s record down the Flemington straight is also impressive with two wins and a second from four previous starts at the track, the latest producing a Listed Straight Six (1200m) win back in May as the odd-on favourite by nearly three lengths.

Last year’s winning jockey Damien Oliver has a shot at back-to-back Mumm Stakes wins this Cup Carnival riding the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Miss Promiscuity from barrier five on Thursday.

The Magnus five-year-old was runner-up in the Alinghi Stakes last time out with her latest victory being back in early July at Caulfield in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m), her record over the distance very good (5-2-2-1).

Hayes & Dabernig are also represented out wide by Afleet Esprit (barrier 19 into 18) who is out to improve on her Alinghi Stakes sixth.

Other notable GH Mumm Stakes hopefuls this season include Alinghi fourth placed I Love It who was third in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide during the winter, Peter & Paul Snowden’s returning Tatt’s Tiara failure Dublin Lass and Morphettville visitor I Am Gypsy coming off a trio of wins back home.

Check out the full GH Mumm Stakes 2015 field, barriers, jockeys and weights below then visit Ladbrokes.com.au and sign-up with the bookie offering an Extra 50% if your VERY FIRST fixed odds win bet in Races 1 – 5 at Flemington on Thursday is successful!

2015 GH Mumm Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Flemington Race 7 (4:00pm) – 05/11/2015