Sprinter Shows Touch Of Elusive Class
- Saturday, 05 June 2010 06:15
Lightly raced four-year-old Elusive Touch has made an impressive start to the Victorian Sprint Series with a first up victory in the fourth heat at Flemington.
Formerly trained by Sydney's Tim Martin, the gelding was having only his second start for Mark Kavanagh on Saturday and scored a three-quarter length win over Grand Duels and the fast finishing O'Reilly's Clock down the straight 1200 metres.
Elusive Touch had hinted his ability to Kavanagh at his last start in January when he finished second to stakes winner Captain Coltish at Moonee Valley.
He has now won three of his seven starts with his only unplaced run being at his Newcastle debut in March last year.
Kavanagh's racing manager Merv Harvey said Elusive Touch was unknown on rain affected ground but handled the soft conditions at Flemington well.
"It was good to see him tuck in behind them and finish the race off well," Harvey said.
"He seems to get through the going all right and is heading the right way."
Harvey said Elusive Touch had come back a better horse this campaign after an autumn spell.
"We weren't happy with him after his Moonee Valley run so we gave him a break and it has done him the world of good," Harvey said.
Jockey Stephen Baster said Elusive Touch was a promising sprinter and there was still upside to him.
"He just raced that little bit fresh and held them off to the line but I think he is probably a nicer horse than that if he relaxes a bit early," Baster said.
Harvey said Elusive Touch would race on through the eight-heat Victorian Sprint Series to the $150,000 final at Flemington over 1200 metre on July 10.
"This is about his level," Harvey said.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin
