Elixir back big time

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s La Luna Rossa rushed home late for second in the $215,000 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield yesterday.

Her first Australian run promises bigger rewards when she steps up over another 200m for the Guineas in a few weeks.

However, that was just the appetiser to the sizzling performance Sacred Elixir served up for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike in the following race.

Fresh back from a spell the Pour Moir colt sent a shiver through his spring opponents with his 1400m win.

‘‘This is a pleasant surprise,’’ Pike said. ‘‘He’s only going to get better as he gets up in trip.’’

The next challenge comes in a fortnight in the A$1 million Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

And Pike isn’t discounting taking on the mighty Winx in the Cox Plate.

Fifth behind Sacred Elixir was La Luna Rossa’s stablemate Saracino.

Kiwis Xtravagant and Rangipo failed in the Group I Sir Rupert Clark Stakes for the Kiwi while Lucia Valentina was third in the Underwood.