Recording his seventh stakes victory, the Andrew Gluyas trained Air Assault produced an outstanding effort at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup day, romping away by more than six and a half lengths to record his second consecutive Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) victory.
Resuming this time in at Flemington, not all went to plan in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes (1400m), but the form out of the race has been very good with both the third placed Von Hauke (NZ) and fourth placed Warnie (IRE) both going on to record Group 2 success.
Air Assault headed back to his home base of South Australia and captured the Gawler Cup before starting the second favourite in Tuesday’s Listed John Letts Cup (1800m).
Settling in second in the run after Sir Kingsford took the lead, jockey Jason Holder tracked along before making his move as the field headed into the home straight where Air Assault came back to the inside rail before exploding away to take out his ninth race win.
Defeating Sir Kingsford, who had finished third behind Air Assault in last year’s John Letts Cup, the Richard and Chantelle Jolly trained Pudding (NZ) finished in third.
With nine wins and seven placed efforts from 32 starts, Air Assault took his career earnings to $898,685.
Having formed a formidable partnership with the son of Justify, Jason Holder was extremely pleased by the win.
"Oh my god, I love him. He's just a genuine good horse," Holder said.
"I've had an ordinary day, I've had the worst day, I thought ‘can it get any better?' – I hope so.
"A couple of horses we expected to win were disappointing, but he just always pulls me out of the rabbit hole.
"Sometimes you just need the right horse, and it can pull you out."
"I thought that was his best win today, he can float a little bit, but today he just put them away really quickly," Holder said.
After last year’s John Letts victory, Air Assault headed to Victoria where he contested the Cranbourne and Ballarat Cup, so that could be a possible option for the gelding.
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 South Australia’s Mill Park Stud, Air Assault is a half-brother to Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go, Group 3 winner Essay Raider, and Group 3 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.
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 Cosmo Kuranda, winner of the Group 2 Nakayama Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen and runner-up in the Group 1 Satsuki Sho.
Air Assault is one of 53 international stakes winner for Coolmore's Justify (USA), who did not shuttle to Australia this season, while his multiple Group 1-winning, Champion son City Of Troy is covering his first local book of mares at a fee of $49,500 (inc. GST).
