Elusive City will change studs for the 2010 serving season in Europe but the move won’t affect his southern hemisphere ties to Trelawney Stud in New Zealand.  Now nine, the son of Elusive Quality will leave the Irish National Stud to stand at the Haras d’Etreham in France.

Elusive City was a G1 winner of the 2002 Prix Morny at Deauville.  It confirmed his rating as one of the best juveniles of his generation despite a couple of controversial results.  He had been disqualified from prior wins in a Lingfield maiden and the G2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood after returning positive swabs.

Elusive City was last seen as a summer three year-old in the 2003 G2 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.  He tracked Choisir in second spot early on but was no match for the Aussie flyer in the final furlong.

His sire Elusive Quality was represented by another divisional champion the following year when Smarty Jones came out and won the G1 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Elusive City retired to stud in Huma Park Stud in 2005 before transferring to the Irish National Stud two years later.  He was the leading UK-Ireland first-season sire in 2008 and has gone right on with the job this term.  His initial crop includes Goffs Million winner Soul City, French 1000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave plus Lingfield and York Listed winner Nashmiah.

In New Zealand, his Listed winners include Metropolitan (Riccarton Belle Stakes ) and Lamington Vegas (Otaki Ryder Stakes).
The decision to relocate Elusive City was made by his owners this week.  Three-quarters of the shares are owned by French breeders.