3 minute read

Co-trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas invariably have a good a horse in their stable.

Go Indy Go is their stable star at present but Gamblin’ Guru is proving himself a more than handy performer at the same time.

This afternoon Gamblin’ Guru lines-up in the $80,000 Balaklava Cup over 1600m, South Australia’s richest provincial race.

Gamblin’ Guru will be having his second run back following a spell when he lines-up in the Balaklava Cup following a first-up fourth in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes over 1400m at Morphettville Parks on August 23.

A four-year-old son of New Approach, Gamblin’ Guru hit top form when stepped up to 1600m and above last campaign.

He took out the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas over 1800m on April 12 before taking out the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over 2000m.

He then stepped up to Group 1 company, finishing fourth behind Kushadasi in the Group 1 South Australian Derby over 2500m on May 3.

He was immediately spelled after that race before his resuming run which produced a Timeform weight adjusted figure of 105 with the promise of more to come.

Clare Lindop takes over the reins on Gamblin’ Guru this afternoon after Jason Holder has had the mount on the gelding at his last five outings.

Lindop will feel she is “owed” a win aboard Gamblin’ Guru. He was the horse that put her on the injured list for four months with 15 broken ribs when he fell at Morphettville on Adelaide Cup Day in March.

With just 0.5kg above the 54kg minimum he is going to prove very hard to beat.

Longshoreman, from the in-form Tony McEvoy yard, appeals as the danger.

The gelding had been racing in Sydney before McEvoy whisked him down to South Australia where he was a last start close-up third over 1600m at Morphettville on August 16.

He drops 1.5kg in weight this afternoon and despite the awkward draw is going to give this an almighty shake.

Justify That, prepared by the other ‘Peter Moody’ at Strathalbyn, is aiming to make it four wins on the trot.

The seven-year-old son of King Of Prussia landed the hat-trick when taking out the Listed Penny Edition Stakes at Morphettville Parks 11 days ago.

That was his third successive win over the Morphettville Parks 1400m course.

Although he’s yet to win at the 1600m trip and is yet to contest a race at Balaklava, Justify That is racing in terrific heart and is sure to attract plenty of attention this afternoon.

Good luck and good punting.