Group 1 placegetter Air Assault resumes in Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday
Trainer Andrew Gluyas can’t wait to see what Air Assault can accomplish this spring ahead of the stayer’s return in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville.
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Air Assault produced a bold frontrunning display to finish third in the South Australian Derby, and that performance has trainer Andrew Gluyas heading into spring with an open mind as the gelding resumes in Saturday’s Group 3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
The talented four-year-old won three races in a row during Adelaide’s carnival, including the Morphettville Guineas (1600m) and Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), before a gallant placing in the Derby behind Coco Sun and Warmonger – snuffing out previous doubts over the gelding’s ability to run out a strong 2500m.
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“It was an exciting run, we went into the race with a few doubts, with him getting over that ground,” Gluyas said.
“He took the lead up and was run down late, it was an exciting run and it made us think about what may be in the spring.
“He controlled the race a bit, it was run under his conditions, he likes that style of racing where he can push himself into the race and control things – which he did that day.”
That autumn form aged well for Air Assault, he twice beat home Warmonger in the Port Adelaide Guineas and Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m), before finishing just behind him in the Derby.
Warmonger would then go on to thrash his rivals by 10 lengths in the Queensland Derby (2500m) in June.
There’s no shortage of options for Gluyas to consider as he ramps up a spring campaign.
Air Assault is set to head to the Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) on August 31, with the Balaklava Cup (1600m) a possible target in September.
It's an Air Assault in the Port Adelaide Guineas 💥
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 13, 2024
The son of Justify wins his third on the bounce for Andrew Gluyas & Jason Holder 👊@MacdonaldRacingpic.twitter.com/OBqxKGfQIz
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Gluyas also has some Melbourne features in mind, such as the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), while Air Assault is also among the list of nominations for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Cox Plate (2040m).
“Going forward it will be interesting to see where he fits into his racing this spring, Saturday will be a bit of a pipe-opener for him,” he said.
“We’re quite happy with him and looking forward to him starting up, we feel that he will probably need the run but in saying that, he does race with a bit of intent, we are excited with him starting up again.
“We’ll get him through his formative races and see where he measures up – things are quite open at the moment.”
The son of Justify is already a four-time stakes winner from five race wins, but is only now beginning to furnish into the finished product.
He will be ridden by gun hoop Jason Holder on Saturday.
“From our perspective, watching him each morning, he seems like a much more composed horse (mentally),” Gluyas said.
“It will be interesting to see how he settles into his racing. You always like to see him now as a four-year-old, he’s probably furnishing into where he’s going to settle into in terms of his maturity and progression.”
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Gluyas also has smart mare Arugamama resuming in Saturday’s Behemoth Stakes.
“She’s returned well, she had a long prep last time, she had a good break, she raced well once she got upwards of a mile,” he said.
“We are excited to get a few runs under her belt and get her over a bit of ground. It’s always a good start the Behemoth Stakes, it’s an exciting race and a good entry point into the spring in Adelaide.”
Air Assault is a $13 chance with TAB fixed odds for Saturday’s Behemoth Stakes, while Arugamama is a $26 hope.
See You In Heaven is race favourite at $3.
Originally published as Group 1 placegetter Air Assault resumes in Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday
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