Air Assault Hits Top Form

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 14

Winner of the Group III SAJC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) last season at two, Air Assault burst back to top form at Morphettville on Saturday with a resounding win in the Listed SAJC Hill Smith Stakes (1800m).

A work in progress trained now trained by Andrew Gluyas following the retirement of his training partner Leon Macdonald, Air Assault was having his third run back from a spell and relished the step up in distance to bolt clear and win by more than three lengths.

Air Assault missed a recent start when a fluke incident occurred involving a needle that broke in his neck during a pre-race blood test.  He has the overall record two wins from eight starts earning over $175,000 and the Group I VRC Victoria Derby is on the radar.

“I’m quite proud of the horse actually, to prepare for today over 1800m after a hiccup along the way and a couple of six furlong (1200m) races under his belt and a little bit of uncertainty about his two-year-old form,” Gluyas said.

“That (incident) just prevented him from having that mile run really, I would’ve preferred to have had that, but it looks like he’s got some stamina.

“We needed to see him stand up and I think he did today, it was a very honest effort.

“We’ll have a real good look at what we do with him now but I think he’s put his hand up (to head to Melbourne).”

Advertisement

Passed in as a yearling and retained to race, Air Assault was bred by Harry Perks and partners and was raised at Mill Park in South Australia.

Air Assault was raised at Mill Park.

He is a half-brother to Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go (who also won the G3 SA Sires Produces Stakes), Group III winner Essay Raider and Group III placed Battle Brewing being the third stakes-winner among seven winners from outstanding producer Elegant Eagle.

A winning daughter of champion sire Zabeel, Elegant Eagle is a full sister to the dam of Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed from the family of Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha, so it’s a genuinely versatile family at the elite level.

Elegant Eagle was retired from stud duty at the start of this year and her last foal is a colt by Omaha Beach (USA) born last spring.

Air Assault is the first Australian stakes-winner this season for Justify, who has been running hot in the Northern Hemisphere with a spate of recent Group winners including Group I winning juveniles Opera Singer and Just FYI.

Advertisment

Race Result - Hill Smith Stakes LR 1800m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 1:51.76
1
Air Assault
- 3g Justify (USA) x Elegant Eagle (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: A J Gluyas Rdr: J Holder 57
Justify
2
3.3
Diamonds Choice
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Fullazz (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Bieg Rdr: Jake Toeroek 55
So You Think
MM Gold Coast National Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Baramul Stud, Widden Valley, NSW
Buyer: Eric Koh
3
4.3
Sentimental Flame
- 3f Kermadec (NZ) x Sentimental Star (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Travis Doudle Rdr: D Tourneur 55
4
10.1
Think Tank
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Amalgamate (AUS) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: M J Seyers Rdr: Jacob Opperman 57
5
10.6
Ruminate
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Stormy Road (IRE) (Gale Force Ten (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Ben Price 57
6
11.2
Thorny Path
- 3c All Too Hard (AUS) x Jessolaura (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Callan Murray 57
7
31.1
Mercury Flyer
- 3g Outreach (AUS) x Caribbean Concert (AUS) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: R Daniel & T Stanbury Rdr: Lachlan Neindorf 57
More Reading...
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
Justify Colt Wins G3 SA Sires Produce Stakes
Returning to Coolmore this spring, Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) posted a third Australian stakes-winner when blue-blood colt Air Assault delivered on potential to win the Group III SAJC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
A Group winner at two and a stakes-winner last spring, Air Assault is now a four time stakes-winner after adding the Listed SAJC  Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) to his tally at Morphettville on Saturday.
Highland Blaze Wins $250,000 Grand National Hurdle
Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.