Part of the Guide to the 2009 Flat season service from Graham Richards. Order your subscription online today for the full service, including newsletters and previews of all major events through the Flat season.

Arazan | Black Bear Island | Crowded House | Delegator | Evasive | Fame And Glory | Mastercraftsman | Rainbow View | Rip Van Winkle | Sea The Stars | Serious Attitude | Other British runners | Other Irish runners

Evasive (Elusive Quality — Canda, by Storm Cat): Evasive made his debut on the all-weather at Kempton Park in September 2009. Too green to do himself justice, he ran on late in the day to finish third to John Gosden’s useful colt Mafaaz, now officially rated 102.

Dispatched to Newmarket for a seven-furlong maiden in early October, he came home in good style from Makaamen and Infiraad. The former is now rated on 95, after two wins this season, while the latter broke his duck in good style at the recent Craven meeting.

Three weeks later, connections made a bold decision to move Evasive up to Grade Three Company for the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury, run over seven-furlongs. Handling the soft ground conditions with ease, he travelled well for Christophe Soumillon, before taking up the running three and a half furlongs from home. Soon several lengths clear, he had the race won when tiring in the last half-furlong, allowing Bonnie Charlie to close the gap to a flattering half a length.

Elusive looks an out and out miler on breeding and is currently rated 7lb behind Delegator on official ratings. Reported to have strengthened and developed over the winter, he looks more than capable of closing the gap on the higher rated horses in the 2000 Guineas. However, a series of niggling setbacks have tested Sir Michael Stoute’s preparation skills to the limit.

Elusive Quality progeny winning distances

5-6f 1,000-1,399m	25%
7-8f 1,400-1,799m	61%
9-10f 1,800-2,199m	9%
11-13f 2,200-2,799m	5%
14+f 2,800+m	0%