The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Elusive Express made a winning debut in the Polytrack Maiden Plate (1200m) at Cranbourne on Wednesday to give another reason to mourn the early death of her sire Jakkalberry (IRE).
Elusive Express in one of 49 live foals from the fourth and final crop of Jakkalberry (IRE), whose triple derby winning son Explosive Jack has been flying the flag this season.
Despite being caught wide the trip under Jamie Kah, Elusive Express strode to the front before the home turn. She kept up a strong gallop in the straight to defeat the Ilovethiscity filly Sister Vianney by one and a half lengths with a further three-quarter length back to the Zoustar filly Jaga in third.
Like Explosive Jack, Elusive Express was bred by Luigi Muollo’s Explosive Breeding Pty Ltd.
Muollo owns Novara Park, where Jakkalberry (IRE) commenced his stallion career.
“She has done a good job. She is still very new to it all and has a lot to learn, but she has plenty of upside,” Sam Freedman said.
“We left it up to Jamie. I don’t think she is a filly that you want to be pulling around and getting upset in the run, so a nice flowing ride like that suited her.
“We came here not too sure where we would be going. She won impressively, so we will give a bit of thought to whether to give her a short break and look to the spring. I think she will be a filly that will be better in the autumn.
“She was strong to the line, so I think she will get out to a bit of a trip.”
The dam of Elusive Express, Braided (Elusive Quality), was bought by Novara Park for just $5,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
Her first foal, Condo’s Express (Rubick), won the 2019 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes.
Tony Ottobre purchased a Sweynesse filly out of Braided for $140,000 out of the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Sadly, Braided died after foaling a colt by Staphanos (JPN) last spring.
