EXCITES galloper Elusive Shine made a stunning return to racing at his second start after a long lay-off to record a thumping 6-lens win in Victoria during the week.
The Luke Oliver trained four-year-old was forced out after his one and only start at Seymour on April 28 in 2012.
“Elusive Shine suffered consecutive setbacks with the most serious injury a fractured pelvis sustained in a trial back in March. He was touch and go for 48 hours but thankfully pulled through and was given an extended three month break to recover.” explains (owners) First Light Racing’s Sam Kilkenny.
“(He was) not guaranteed to return to racing, trainer Luke Oliver meticulously plotted his rehabilitation.”
Despite the layout, Elusive Shine was sent out as the $3.80 favourite in the 1100m Maiden at Traralgon which turned into a procession.
Oliver’s charge sat second until the corner before taking the lead at the top of the stretch and clearing out to win without any pressure being applied.
“It was a very easy win. He made it a one act affair really. He relaxed nicely and then put them away easily,” jockey Ryan Maloney enthused.
The emphatic win wasn’t missed by many with a Racenet’s Brad Waters noting it was the fastest 1100m time of this season (including all 1100m metropolitan races) and TVN’s David Gately told owners on Twitter Elusive Shine went 2-3 lengths quicker than the feature 1100m race later in the day.
Elusive Shine is from the same family as triple G1 winner Sea Siren and boasts a rare 3 X 4 duplication of one-time Vinery associate sire Success Express.
Meanwhile, Excites first-crop son Scream Machine is afforded a great chance to win the Group 2 ATC Villiers Stakes (1550m) at Randwick-Kensington on Saturday.
Already a winner of almost $400,000, the Jason Coyle trained gelding is coming off a slashing 0.8-lens fourth in the Goulburn Cup.
