Justify Colt Wins G3 SA Sires Produce Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 13

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.

A work in progress trained by Leon Macdonald Andrew Gluyas, Air Assault had been showing gradual improvement in previous runs with a last start fifth in the Group III SA Breeders Stakes giving connections optimism for a step out to 1400m.

Well ridden by Jason Holder, Air Assault worked forward to lead and once he settled into a rhythm was always going to be hard to catch.

He led for home and fought off all challengers to win by a long neck over the favourite Nodachi, breaking his maiden with a Group victory.

 

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 as a yearling.

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.

“He stuck to his guns and has been looking for the 1400m,” said Andrew Gluyas.

“We’re always around the mark in this race with these emerging two year-olds. Elegant Eagle has been a great producer for us although she’s getting a bit long in the tooth, but along the way has left stayers, sprinters and all sorts of different horses.

“We’ll send him for a spell now and hopefully in the spring we’ll have the genuine article.”

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.

Justify stands at a fee of $77,000 .

Air Assault is the third Australian stakes-winner and tenth worldwide for Justify, whose first crop stats in Australia are looking very promising. From 10 runners here, he has left five winners and three of them are stakes-winners.

Justify is set to be crowned Champion Australian First Season Sire and is back at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $77,000.

 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Sth Aust. Sires' Produce Gr3 1400m

Morphettville Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:24.50
1
Air Assault
T: L Macdonald & A Gluyas J: J Holder 57.5
2c Justify (USA) x Elegant Eagle (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
2
0.3
Nodachi
T: M J Ellerton J: John Allen 55.5
2f No Nay Never (USA) x Kaiken (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
3
2.8
Harley'N'Rose
T: G Richards & D Moyle J: Todd Pannell 57.5
2g Holler (AUS) x Zaraya Rose (AUS) (Hawk Wing (USA))
4
4.2
Tokyo Star
T: Alexander Rae J: Chris Parnham 55.5
2f Staphanos (JPN) x Copacabana (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
5
4.8
Anticks
T: S P Nichols J: D Moor 55.5
2f Rubick (AUS) x Fitna (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
6
5.0
Diamonds Choice
T: Chris Bieg J: Ms C Jones 55.5
2f So You Think (NZ) x Fullazz (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
7
5.5
Long Lost Friend
T: Ben Brisbourne J: Declan Bates 55.5
2f Shamoline Warrior (AUS) x Friendwithbenefits (AUS) (Street Boss (USA))
More Reading...
New 2YO Stakes-winner Blue Point
Returning to Darley Victoria this spring, Blue Point (IRE) sired his first two year-old stakes-winner this year in the Northern Hemisphere when Tiego the First took out the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure (1400m) at Chantilly.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 7
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Aussie Coolmore Sires Combine for New French G1 Winner
The Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) at Deauville for three year-olds has been won in the past by the likes of Too Darn Hot, Pinatubo and Laws of Indices, who found his way to Australia, and this year’s winner Puchkine combines the blood of two stallions on the Coolmore Australia roster this spring.
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).
Aussie Owners Share in German Derby Victory
The Group I German Derby (2400m) was run at Hamburg on Sunday with victory going to Gleneagles colt Palladium, who runs for Liberty Racing 2022 and has a pedigree that has a significant Australian offshoot.
Familiar Pedigree Makes Early Running at JRHA Select Sale
A colt from the family of Saturday’s Listed Belmont Oaks heroine Petrouchka made the early running as the yearling session of the JRHA Select Sale got underway at Northern Horse Park, Hokkaido on Monday.
Good Times Keep Rolling at Mapperley
Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison has enjoyed a memorable season with results to savour on and off the track.
Kia Ora Appoint Allison Sedgwick as Head of Sales
Kia Ora has bolstered its dynamic team with the appointment of seasoned industry expert Allison Sedgwick as Head of Sales.
Ilovethiscity Fee Slightly Reduced - Winning Double on Monday
Ilovethiscity, winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, and producer of Group 1 two-year-old El Dorado Dreaming will stand the 2024 breeding season at Noor Elaine Farm and is in hot form with a winning double on Monday.