Seeking Something Elusive

WYN Racing Stable's Somthing Elusive goes for a hat-trick of consecutive wins to kick-off a highly competitive Thanksgiving Day of racing at Hastings.

Oct 09, 2023

**SOMTHING ELUSIVE (Kimal Santo) goes for a third consecutive win** — *photo Michael Bye*

SOMTHING ELUSIVE goes for a hat-trick of consecutive wins and, on paper at least, this looks to be between him and BETTER TONE. It’s far from easy to pick off three races in a row at Hastings, but both of ‘Elusive’s’ victories were over today’s distance and were comfortable wins. Better Tone drops back to sprinting after winning last time over 8½ furlongs. He hasn’t yet won over the 6½ furlongs but split Deputy’s Dancer and subsequent winner Dynamiter over the distance back in July in a marginally tougher contest than this may be. THERE GOES MY HERO also drops back in distance after a solid second behind Jock Talk last time. He’s now been a runner-up in his past three runs while, prior to that, he sandwiched a fourth-place finish with two victories and is clearly as consistent as they come.

MAX BOOSTER, who split Barberry Bandit and Stanford North last-time out, has improved in each of his three runs to date and wouldn’t need to improve much more to be a serious threat here. It’s his first effort at the mile-and-sixteenth course but he was plugging on well enough last time to suggest it shouldn’t be a problem. HE’S A SAINT ‘goes long’ for the first time since finishing second to Wisely Played more than a year ago. A repeat of that effort would make him hard to beat but he’s now had 14 attempts at breaking his maiden and, last time out, trailed home in Max Booster’s race. STOLO SPIRIT, meanwhile, was doing all her best work late when fourth, beaten just a length, in her last outing and ran as though this distance will suit her.

ROOKIE YEAR had all today’s rivals behind when they chased home Stay Fantastic last time and will be a warm order to confirm that superiority here. It won’t be straightforward. BROKE AN BROKEN already has three wins to his credit this season and hasn’t missed the board all year, either. WISELY PLAYED, meanwhile, got away slowly and was never in a position to challenge last time but, prior to that, ran up a sequence of five second-place finishes and a third. A credit to connections, it’s hard to see him not involved at the sharp end again.

OUR BLOKE received a solid education under Amadeo Perez on his racing debut. Allowed to work it out himself, he seemed to enjoy the experience and ran-on eye-catchingly to finish third behind the more experienced Beckett’s Best. Any normal progression on that first foray would make him a tough nut to crack. ON MY GOOD SIDE was also rallying in the same contest as Our Bloke and looked ill at ease on the wet track. Expect to see more from him, too. KIKI’S LOV OF LIFE came home in his own time under a sympathetic ride from Antonio Reyes when breaking tardily on his debut over 3½ furlongs and he should be a different proposition today. EYES OF BEAUTY has been working solidly and makes most appeal of the two making their racing debuts.

We’ll need the trusty dart here as any of these tough claimers are capable of landing the spoils on their day. PADDY D’ORO had JUST MAKE BELIEVE, VANCOUVER’S HUNTER and DYNAMITER behind when they chased home Frankie Machine last time, although it was a fast-run race early, which put paid to Dynamiter’s attempt to go gate-to-wire. He teams up today with Amadeo Perez, who last rode him back in July when they won a similar contest. Paddy d’Oro was squeezed for room early but ran-on with some gusto in what was arguably his best performance of the season. He’ll go close if repeating that level. RING OF KERRY has run over this distance just four times in a 42-race career but does have form over it that suggests he is not without a chance.

GROOVIN’ IS BAK was a tad unlucky to fall foul of the stewards following his neck victory over ENGLISH BAY TEDDY last time. BAK TO LIBERTY was perhaps the worst affected by the traffic that day, uncharacteristically flubbing the start but running on very well late only to have to steady under Antonio Reyes when a gap disappeared suddenly. Reyes keeps the faith and the pair should be a lot closer again today. TIZ THE PROSPECT led them all a merry dance until weakening only late on in the same race, while BARBERRY BANDIT was impressive when drawing away from Max Booster to win by 4½ lengths on his most recent outing.

Hopefully, horse players haven’t put the dart away yet. They’ll certainly need it for this confounding finale. JERSEY LILLIE had PINEAPPLE TIDBITS, HARLAN’S ANGEL, ANOTHERSUNNYDAY and RACINO behind when winning last time but it’s worth noting that the track has soaked up a lot of rain the day before and didn’t suit several of Lillie’s opponents. ANAAMY beat Jersey Lillie and Harlan’s Angel two starts back when they met on a fast track, while the Racing Club’s Racino should also be a different proposition on a dry surface.