It might be ‘moving day’ at Flemington, but Andrew Gluyas’ spring prospects will be shaped closer to home when he saddles up a trio of emerging three-year-olds at Morphettville.
The Morphettville horseman is represented by half of the six-horse field for the 1600m three-year-old contest, with Golden Guru, Sassy Sophie and Freedom Flame all attempting to advance their Stakes claims.
Golden Guru is a half-brother to last year’s VRC Derby winner Goldrush Guru, while Freedom Flame is a half-sister to one-time stable pin-up Dalasan.
While they both remain maidens, Churchill filly Sassy Sophie is a last-start winner and Gluyas said the trio will all be given the chance to advance to the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) in a fortnight.
“All three are developing along the same timeline but differently,” Gluyas said.
“The colt, Golden Guru, has needed a bit of racing because he didn’t have that as a two-year-old and I thought his last couple of efforts have been quite good.
“Once the blinkers went on, that sharpened him up a little bit last start and I think the mile will suit him a treat.
“The last-start winner at Balaklava, Sassy Sophie, she was quite good in a tight finish there with a couple of other horses that are in the race on Saturday.
“She went back from a mile to 1400m and now back out to a mile again so I think she can give us a nice effort again.
“Freedom Flame is building and she looks like a horse that will be better once we step her out over ground but again, she’s just needed some racing.”
Gluyas’ last-start Wylie Handicap winner Watchme Win will tackle the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington, while six-time Stakes winner Air Assault will resume in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes.