Crossword Genius

Stake cut head of elegant creature (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

antelope

'creature' is the definition.
(type of animal)

'stake cut head of elegant' is the wordplay.
'stake' becomes 'ante' (anteing is a kind of staking).
'cut' becomes 'lop' (lopping is a kind of cutting).
'head of' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'elegant' is 'e'.
'ante'+'lop'+'e'='ANTELOPE'

(Other definitions for antelope that I've seen before include "Odd toe panel of this hoofed animal" , "A graceful gazelle from Africa" , "A lone pet as a ruminant" , "A swift-running animal like gazelle" , "Reebok perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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