Goldrush Guru ($8.50) has produced an outstanding performance to claim the feature Group 1 VRC Derby at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, as Andrew Gluyas combined with Jamie Kah.
The South Australian galloper only won his maiden earlier this year in August, and he has progressed from that to win a Group 1 classic three months later.
After jumping from barrier 13, Kah pushed forward and eventually settled in the one-one position behind Hot Too Go ($71), Oxford Blue ($51) and Keeneland ($10).
As expected, the race favourite with horse racing bookmakers El Castello ($3.90) settled back in the field while the second favourite, King Of Thunder ($6), received a perfect run on the rail in sixth position.
Rounding the home turn, the leaders started to tire and Goldrush Guru was left out in front, a long way from home, but Kah hadn’t moved on him.
Once Kah unleashed the brakes on the son of American Pharoah, he bounded clear to put three lengths on her rivals, while Scary ($41) began to finish off strongly down the middle of the track.
However, the chasers were doing just that, as Goldrush Guru kept up a strong gallop in the concluding stages to record a 1.5-length victory over Scary and China Sea ($11), who poked through along the inside.
2024 VRC Derby replay – Goldrush Guru
Andrew Gluyas was on course to speak about the victory.
“I’m speechless, overwhelmed, proud, satisfied. Great moment. I’ll be celebrating in South Australia tonight,” Gluyas said.
“We often talk about Derbies.
“Leon won the SA Derby with French Cotton. That’s the name for the French Cotton Lodge at home.
“We had a great run of horses running in the derby. Gold Guru won the AJC Derby.
“Rebel Raider then stood up in ‘08 and won the VRC Derby and then won our Derby. We had a few near misses with Hydrometer. It’s folklore.
“We often talk about Derbies. When we prepare them and you get a good result like this, it’s great that we can talk about Goldrush Guru again.
“Just with the programming back home, last year was a three week break, this year was two, so I guess that forced our hand a little bit.
“Initially, Jamie did jump well, she was posted wide.
“Then she finally settled into a beautiful spot, sort of a pair back.
“She was travelling into the corner beautifully and I thought, oh, we’re a good crack here; you always look for those horses that are full of the bridle and coming at you.
“But he was too strong. It was a great staying effort by Goldrush Guru.”
Jamie Kah was very happy with the win post-race.
“It means everything to us. Obviously we love riding group 1 winners, but it just makes it so much more special when it’s for some fantastic people like Andrew (Gluyas),” Kah said.
“I used to ride for Andrew and Leon. I rode some shockers back in the day for them, so it was nice to repay them on the big stage on Derby Day.
“My plan was to get back on him. Couldn’t hold him early. I was going to be wide and somehow found a little gap to slot into.
“Once I found the gap, he just fell asleep and gave me a beautiful run throughout.
“He won it a long way out and I could have stopped him for another lap, but he wanted to keep going.
They’ve trained this horse to perfection, he’s looked good winning in Adelaide but obviously the class is a bit different.
“I didn’t know how we was going to measure up but they’ve done a good job.”
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