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Talented galloper Elusive Touch confirmed his status as a sprinter with a fresh-up win down the straight at Flemington.
Resuming in today's heat of the All Victorian Sprint series, the Mark Kavanagh-trained gelding jumped well and made a bee-line up the middle of the track in front.
He was well rated there by Michael Rodd and although challenged on either side kicked strongly enough to set up a winning break and recorded his fifth career win.
It was a competitive race with the luckless Gran Sasso running a game second after knuckling and going down on his nose at the start.
Tollesprit ran on into third while the grey Morgan Dollar, who had been on the speed throughout, held fourth closest to the inside.
Secret Flyer, who drew an inside gate, went way back to last, crossed to the other side of the track and made a long run but could manage only fifth, just ahead of the fast finishing Veewap who ran a top race fresh.
But Elusive Quality, running another good race up the straight at Flemington, confirmed to Kavanagh he was best kept to sprints and to the Flemington straight.
The lightly-raced gelding, stoutly bred on his dam's side, was tried over further last campaign but will be restricted to shorter races from here on.
“He's a terrific straight course horse,” Kavanagh said.
“We'll probably freshen him, and get him ready and give him a chance for a nice race down the straight during Cup week.
“He's out of a staying mare and we thought he may have got out to 1400m or been a miler but he needs the blinkers and he's better off being kept to the straight course.”
Elusive Touch, a son of Elusive Quality, now has five wins and five minors from 12 career runs.
But at the straight track at Flemington he has raced four times for three wins and a placing.