Lee Freedman is hoping former English staying mare Elopement can capitalise on the extended distance of the Ansett Classic at Mornington Saturday.Freedman was critical of the Mornington club's move to increase this year's race from 2000 to 2400 metres, which has provided an unlikely opportunity for his seven-year-old mare in a substandard field."Some fairly handy horses have the won the race in the past but this year it looks like a jumpers' flat," Freedman said.He said he had nominated Elopemen

Lee Freedman is hoping former English staying mare Elopement can capitalise on the extended distance of the Ansett Classic at Mornington Saturday.

Freedman was critical of the Mornington club's move to increase this year's race from 2000 to 2400 metres, which has provided an unlikely opportunity for his seven-year-old mare in a substandard field.

"Some fairly handy horses have the won the race in the past but this year it looks like a jumpers' flat," Freedman said.

He said he had nominated Elopement for a mares-89 class race at Bendigo next Wednesday but she now had a chance to run for $100,000 against comparable class horses.

"It is a weakish field at Mornington and she is looking for a mile and a half (2400m) probably more than the 2200 (at Bendigo) so I thought we would give it a fly," said Freedman, who won the Ansett Classic three years ago with We Can't Say That.

Other recent winners of the Ansett Classic have included Legible (2003), Under The Bridge (2004), (Sarrera (2006), and Annenkov (2007).

Freedman said the biggest danger to Elopement could be New Kid In Town who he trained to win the 2006 Warrnambool Cup before sending him to trainer Ciaron Maher this year to take advantage of the beach training environment at Warrnambool.

Elopement won six races in England from 2054 to 2414 metres, featuring four in a row at the end of her last campaign a year ago before she was sold for 27,000 guineas at the December Tattersall's sale.

Successful breeder John Baxter is her new owner and Elopement will eventually add to the boutique group of broodmares he has at his Ruane property at Menangle.

Elopement has won just over $54,000 in stakes but would more than double her earnings with victory at Mornington and improve her prospects in the breeding barn.

She ran in three barrier trials for Freedman before making her debut for the stable over 1722 metres at Sale where she finished a close fifth to The Yartz.

Last start she finished strongly and was beaten in a photo finish by Tellan Dave over 2031 metres at Mornington on September 11.

"She is a mile and a half - two mile horse," Freedman said.

He said the 3000-metre races at Moonee Valley looked ideal targets for Elopement.

"The only thing she can do is stay so there might be a couple of city wins in her," Freedman said.