SA TROTS - Happy homecoming for well travelled Elusive

WELL-TRAVELLED filly Elusive completed a happy homecoming of sorts during the weekend.

Bred at Dave and Glenda Battye’s South Australian-based Buckland Park Homestead, Elusive made her debut in Ballarat in May 2023 for former 'Croweater' Geoff Webster.

Remaining in Webster's care until last September, Elusive was transferred to New South Wales trainer Peter Rixon for the Breeders' Challenge, ultimately finishing second in the Group One Final after winning a heat and semi.

The daughter of Million Dollar Cam was then transferred to South Australian horseman Michael Norman for the SA Oaks at Globe Derby on November 9, where she was runner-up again.

Returning to the same venue last Saturday night, Elusive produced a sensational performance to blitz her rivals in a Southern Cross Final.

"I broke her in and did a lot of work with her early on before she went to Geoff," Norman explained. "She showed a bit of potential from the start and it was nice having her back for the past month.

"She's always been a nice filly, so I was pretty confident going into the Final and she did it easily in the end."

With Dani Hill in the cart, Elusive led throughout from barrier four to complete a soft 35-and-a-half metre win from Wings On The Line, with Lil Miss Crocker a half-head away third.

"She has good gate speed, but I was a little worried about her crossing Tilly Jane from two as you never know in racing," Norman said. "Once she got to the front I didn't think they would run her down."

Rating 1:59.6 over 2230 metres, the three-year-old provided Hill with the third leg of a treble, with the star reinswoman scoring behind Honeybun and Bay Jim Major earlier on the card.

• PAUL COURTS