Air has second Assault on the 2025 Ballarat Cup

A mature and more composed Air Assault will attempt to push his prizemoney beyond $1 million when he lines up in Saturday’s Ballarat Cup.

Trainer Andrew Gluyas says the gelding has finally pieced it all together after years of racing keenly, noting the now nine-time winner has developed into a tractable, reliable competitor.

Air Assault returns to the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) after finishing seventh in last year’s edition.

He has yet to register a victory at the distance but has run well at 2000m in the past and famously placed 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’d run too hard on the pace, but he’s a lot more settled these days.”

He brings a lighter spring preparation into Saturday compared with 2023, though the Cranbourne Cup again served as his final tune-up, where he finished sixth after being held up.

Earlier wins in the Gawler Cup and Listed John Letts Stakes paved the way to his Cranbourne run.

Gluyas emphasised that a long winter break was always part of the plan to have the gelding primed late in the spring.

“His second and third-up runs were great… He was awkwardly positioned at Cranbourne but still hit the line well,” he said.

After Ballarat, Air Assault will be eased through a gentle autumn before tackling Adelaide’s key carnival fixtures and then potentially returning for another spring campaign.

“He’s been a fantastic horse and has taken us on a good ride,” Gluyas said.

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