So Elusive rewards trainers’ confidence

7th Nov 2011

Michael Pitman’s pre-race confidence in his dashing mare So Elusive (NZ) (Elusive City) was justified in electric fashion on their home track on Saturday when she proved far too slick for her rivals in the Listed Pegasus Stakes.                                 

“I knew on Thursday she would win,” the Riccarton trainer said. “I’ve never in my life seen a horse work as good as she did.”

Pitman’s flying five-year-old jumped out to take up a handy position and when asked for an effort in the straight she was smoothly into overdrive.

With an impressive turn of foot, So Elusive (NZ) put paid to her opposition and she glided home to score by two lengths.

Runner-up Golden Globe (NZ) (Gold Mine) also turned in a sterling performance in only his fourth raceday outing. The three-year-old had also played up at the start but came on well in the run home to take second from the fresh runner Mi Payday (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit).

A daughter of Elusive City (Elusive Quality), So Elusive (NZ) has now won five times from 17 starts and her record also includes a 1000 metre success at Cranbourne last year.

“Not many people would be game enough or good enough to do that,” Pitman said.

The stable has enjoyed outstanding success with sprinters and in recent years and Coup Align (NZ) (Align), Coup Bloomsbury (NZ) (Centaine) and El Chico (NZ) (Stravinsky) have all been feature race winners at Riccarton carnivals.

So Elusive’s rider Lisa Allpress, who had ridden the mare in her previous victory at Motukarara, was again suitably impressed with the mare. “She just extended her stride and won easily,” she said. 

Raced by Jim Bruford and Jim Piper, So Elusive (NZ) was a bargain NZ$5000 buy for Pitman out of the Chequers Stud’s 2008 Carnival Sale draft at Karaka in 2008. She is a half-sister to the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes winner Glamorous Girl (NZ) (Thorn Park) with their dam the dual winner J’Lo (NZ) (Unbridled’s Song).