Air Assault has taken time to furnish, but the patient approach may pay a major dividend with the gelding poised to crack the $1 million earnings mark if he claims Saturday’s Ballarat Cup.
Morphettville trainer Andrew Gluyas credits maturity for Air Assault’s improved racing manners, noting the horse has finally learned to conserve his energy rather than over-racing early.
Air Assault will contest the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) for the second straight year after finishing seventh behind Berkeley Square in last year’s running.
Though winless beyond 1800m, he has two placings from three attempts at 2000m and previously ran third in the Group 1 South Australian Derby over 2500m.
“He ran well in the Vase (at Moonee Valley) as a three-year-old and he’s been placed at Group 1 level, so he has the capacity to run a good 2000 metres, no doubt,” Gluyas said.
“He’s now matured into himself. In previous preps, he had that tendency to run hard on the pace… He’s shown that tendency now to be a bit more settled in his races.”
The gelding’s preparation has been lighter this time around, though the stable again used the Cranbourne Cup as his spring lead-up. He was sixth this year after losing momentum in traffic.
Earlier in the prep, Air Assault landed the Gawler Cup and the Listed John Letts Stakes.
Gluyas said the plan from the outset was to give the gelding a long winter break and bring him up for a spring peak.
“He came up well… I thought he raced well at Cranbourne despite the awkward position he found himself in, and he still hit the line.”
Post-Ballarat, Air Assault will freshen for a light autumn before targeting Adelaide’s carnival and possibly another crack at the spring staying features.
“He’s been a fantastic horse and has taken us on a good ride,” Gluyas said.
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