Morphettville-based trainer Andrew Gluyas is aiming for more Group 1 success with his Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Goldrush Guru, as the promising colt gears up for his autumn campaign.
The rising star, who also claimed the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) during his most recent preparation, has returned to work with big targets on the horizon.
Gluyas is eyeing potential runs in Randwick’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in April and the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in May.
“The break has definitely invigorated him and I’m quite happy with the way he’s returned,” Gluyas told Racing.com.
“For those spring three-year-olds that get over a bit of ground, it can be a test for them to come back, so we’ll be monitoring him closely.”
Gluyas believes the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne will be a pivotal point in the preparation.
“We’d like to give him an opportunity to get to another Derby and we’d like to think that can be in Sydney.
“But we’ll get to the Australian Guineas in Melbourne and that will be a bit of a fork-in-the-road race for us, whether we make the decision to head up to Sydney or wait and bring him back to Adelaide,” Gluyas said.
Now a more seasoned and mature horse, Goldrush Guru might be ready to handle the mile distance in Group 1 company, but Gluyas remains cautious.
“Now that he’s a bit more organised, he might be able to race well at a mile. What we do know is that there is a bit of quality about him but whether he’s brilliant enough for a Group 1 mile, we’ll find out.”
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