DOOM DEC 09 - ELUSIVE PORT WINS IN STYLE

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Friday, December 11, 2009

Doomben, December 9, 2009.
Track - Good 2. Rail - 11m.
C,G&E Class 3 Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-19.43.
1 Elusive Port; 2 Dai Kon; 3 Three Little Words.

The Kelso Wood trained Elusive Port made it back-to-back wins when he turned in a sparkling performance to trounce his opposition, winning every bit as easily as the clear-cut 3.00 length margin suggests.

The gelding had scored over 1200m at the Gold Class in his previous start and he successfully stepped up to the 1350m trip here.

Jockey Brad Pengelly rated the five-year-old in a comfortable fourth place until taking the initiative approaching the turn where he sent Elusive Port in a sweeping run around the front-runners to straighten up in the leading line before kicking away from his rivals in convincing fashion to leave them scrambling for a consolation prize in the home straight.

This was Elusive Port’s second win in four runs for trainer Kelso Wood. He was placed in both other starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelso Wood: “I’ve only had him for four starts. He was brought by an agent. He was racing around Sydney and Newcastle. He is going good and improving all the time. I just wanted Brad (Pengelly) to box seat him. That was all I wanted. My word, he stretched out well. It was a good win.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “He was just going too well. Dai Kon was only going fair and I didn’t want anything to come around me, you know what I mean, because he was going too well ... so I thought I may as well give him that room.

“He hit the line like a decent horse. His work has just been too good not to do well. On that performance you would expect him to win a Saturday race."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Elusive Port): 4.40 out to 4.60 in to 3.60.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stalwell Dash (R. McMahon) jumped away awkwardly, resulting in the saddle on that horse shifting back. Stalwell Dash then attempted to buck for a short distance. In the circumstances, stewards placed a warning on Stalwell Dash. Dai Kon (J. Byrne) faltered shortly after the start.

Near the 100m, Stalwell Dash shifted out, taking All Kiwi (M. Hellyer) out on to Afleet Rapper (M. Cahill), which had to be steadied. Approaching the finish line, Stawell Dash had to be steadied when momentarily tightened for room by Three Little Words (J. Wood), which shifted in.

Afleet Rapper (M. Cahill), Stockton Bight (L. Rolls) and Triple Down (L. Cassidy) raced wide throughout.