The Morphettville-based Andrew Gluyas holds firm that the Premier’s Plate is the appropriate race to elevate prospect stayer Guru Warrior to Black Type level, but caution prevails for the $120,000 Saturday battle.
Some slight interruptions have prompted wariness from the trainer for the 2006-metre Morphettville test, which is Guru Warrior’s debut since notching four straight successes on November 15.
“He missed a little bit of work leading into Saturday,” Gluyas said.
“I was hoping to get in a jumpout or a trial and maybe even a race, but I just had to hold him up that little bit.
So, in terms of work going in, I was hopeful to have a little bit more conditioning into him but, in saying that, he’s got good form and it’s a good opportunity for him to come up to Listed grade after working through his grades.”
In his last outing, Guru Warrior prevailed over 2250m in BM78 grade for his third consecutive win as odds-on shot, having kicked off the sequence as $3.10 equal favourite in Parks’ 1950m BM64 on September 27.
Nearing eight lengths is the aggregate margin from those four wins, an outcome Gluyas valued amid the Saxon Warrior gelding’s irregular racing style through the series.
“He went through that winning run not doing everything completely right, so he’s not the full bottle and I wouldn’t expect to really see the best of him until next spring,” Gluyas said.
“He had a tendency to run around under pressure, but what he does do is he travels well and once he got out to 2000 metres, that’s where he really hit his straps and his ability to travel without effort really seemed to set up his races.
That’s what gives us something to like about him as we move into Saturday.”
Despite a small doubt on the $2.80 top pick Guru Warrior, Gluyas is encouraged by $14 outsider Arugamama’s form leading into her first run post the Skybeau Series Final (2500m) fade on November 22.
“She has had some good, positive trials and jump outs and I’m quite pleased where I’ve got her coming into a 2000-metre race fresh,” he said.
“I think we’ve got her where we want her…she’s there to perform well I reckon.”
For the Premier’s Plate, consider checking the leading online bookmakers for competitive odds on the favourites.
Taylor Johnstone partners the 58kg topweight Arugamama from gate five, with Jacob Opperman steering Guru Warrior (55.5kg) from draw seven.
The post Premier’s Plate test for Guru Warrior first appeared on Just Horse Racing.