VRC Derby winner Goldrush Guru primed for clockwise test in Rosehill Guineas

Adelaide trainer Andrew Gluyas is confident that Goldrush Guru can fire racing in the clockwise direction in the Rosehill Guineas on Saturday.

Adelaide trainer Andrew Gluyas is confident that Goldrush Guru can fire racing in the clockwise direction as the VRC Derby winner targets a second Group 1 win in the Rosehill Guineas on Saturday.

The colt was an eye-catching run in the Australian Guineas (1600m) last start, attacking the line to finish third, and he appears perfectly poised for a step up to 2000m in Saturday’s $750,000 major at Rosehill Gardens.

Having only raced in Adelaide and Melbourne, the biggest query on Goldrush Guru is whether or not he can handle racing clockwise.

Gluyas was assistant trainer to father-in-law Leon Macdonald when he prepared 2008 Derby Winner Rebel Raider for a Sydney campaign in 2009, but the horse didn’t handle the change in direction.

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His current star however, has given him every indication that it won’t be an issue.

“He’s been at Rosehill for a couple of weeks and his efforts going that way under the pressure of a gallop have been quite good,” Gluyas said.

“But you never know until you go under that race pressure, he is an athlete and I feel that he will be able to cope with that quite well.

“Rebel Raider didn’t go that way, but when he came back to Adelaide he was successful – so it just wasn’t for him.

“Guru gives us every indication that he’ll be able to do it.”

The Australian Guineas performance left jockey Jamie Melham elated with the three-year-old, and Melham, who steered Goldrush Guru to last year’s Derby triumph, will pilot from barrier seven on Saturday.

“She was very positive about it, from her angle he has matured into a nice racehorse from the spring effort,” he said.

“She felt he was quite well poised to have a crack at these races now.

“He hit the line well, he’s obviously going to enjoy heading over a bit more ground, it’s his first time at 2000m really.

“(I’m) interested to see how he goes there and particularly going the Sydney way.”

Jamie Kah and Andrew Gluyas after Goldrush Guru won the Victoria Derby Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

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Goldrush Guru will take on gun rivals Broadsiding, Swiftfalcon and Aeliana, three of the top four placegetters from the Randwick Guineas (1600m) last start. Broadsiding is a $2 race favourite with Sportsbet fixed odds.

“We knew that we were going to run into the top end horses, you’ve got to earn your spot and I think he’s done that,” he said.

“His form gives us confidence in him.”

A strong showing in Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas will see Goldrush Guru line up in next month’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

“Everything being well it will be onto the Derby. That’s been the plan all along,” Gluyas said.

“We just want a good run and for him to pull up well from Saturday, we will then press on. He needs to be around the mark and hitting the line.”

Goldrush Guru is a $5 chance with Sportsbet fixed odds for Saturday.

Originally published as VRC Derby winner Goldrush Guru primed for clockwise test in Rosehill Guineas