More Stakes Success for Air Assault

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday November 5

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.

Air Assault has won six stakes races - image Racing Photos

Ridden by Jason Holder, the son of Justify (USA) swept home to win by two lengths taking his overall record to seven wins, a second and four thirds from 22 starts, with earnings in excess of $642,000

Bred by The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, Air Assault was passed in short of his $100,000 reserve when consigned by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds to the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Raised at Mill Park as was Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru, he is a half-brother to Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go, Group III winner Essay Raider, and Group III placed Battle Brewing. He is the third stakes-winner among seven winners from eight to race for the outstanding producer Elegant Eagle, who was pensioned in 2023.

Advertisement

A winning daughter of champion sire Zabeel, Elegant Eagle is a sister to the dam of Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed from the family of Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha.

Southern Speed is at stud in Japan and is the dam of the promising three-year-old Cosmo Kuranda, winner of the Group II Nakayama Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen and runner-up in the Group I Satsuki Sho.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet John Letts Cup LR 1800m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 1:51.06
1
Air Assault
- 4g Justify (USA) x Elegant Eagle (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: A J Gluyas Rdr: J Holder 58
Justify
2
2
Midnight Mass
- 6g Proisir (AUS) x Midnight Gossip (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor Rdr: M Nunes 56
3
3.5
Sir Kingsford
- 5g Sir Prancealot (IRE) x Mighty Maher (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: G & N Searle & B Callanan Rdr: Kayla Crowther 56
4
3.8
Beltoro
- 7g Toronado (IRE) x Believabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Todd Pannell 58
5
7.4
Ichibansan
- 7g Dissident (AUS) x Khandallah (AUS) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: Kylie McKerlie Rdr: J Potter 56
6
8.1
Test The Law
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Constitutional (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: M J Seyers Rdr: Jacob Opperman 56
7
9.2
Zarkana
- 4m Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Diva Express (USA) (Afleet Express (USA))
Tnr: W F Francis & G Kent Rdr: Ben Price 53.5
8
17.9
Red Sequoia
- 6g Husson (ARG) x Intierra (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: G P Moody Rdr: Jessica Eaton 56
More Reading...
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Justify 3YO Air Assault Wins Morphettville Guineas
A Group winner at two and a stakes-winner last spring, Air Assault had a class edge over his rivals in the Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas (1600m) on Monday and led all the way for a determined victory.
Air Assault Hits Top Form
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).
Air Assault Lands the Balaklava Cup as Another Melbourne Spring Looms
Midweek stakes-racing at Balaklava on Wednesday with the running of the Listed BTR Excavations Balaklava Cup (1600m), where the Justify gelding Air Assault demonstrated his courage to land a fifth stakes victory.