Despite boasting three Group One wins — including one as a solo trainer — Andrew Gluyas is still chasing a breakthrough in one of South Australia’s four major races.
During his partnership with Leon MacDonald, the pair celebrated victories in the 2011 Caulfield Cup with Southern Speed and the 2014 Champagne Stakes with Indy Go Go. More recently, Gluyas landed the Victoria Derby with Goldrush Guru.
They came painfully close last year when Another Award finished runner-up in both the Robert Sangster Stakes and The Goodwood. Now, Gluyas hopes Watchme Win can go one better.
Racing in the famous black and white MacDonald silks, the four-year-old earned a place in The Goodwood with a sharp win in the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m). But Gluyas admits the G1 path wasn’t always the plan.
“Not really, we were just hoping to get him racing because he had a whole year off,” Gluyas said.
“So, after a good start-up prep, we gave him a break, after that Sir Sway race, and then we thought we’d see where he pops up, and he’s popped up alright.”
Watchme Win’s career was nearly over before it began after a serious trackwork injury as a juvenile, but Gluyas is confident he’s now ready for the big stage.
“We’re excited for Saturday. He’s come through that run in the John Hawkes really well, he’s building towards the six furlongs and it just happens to be in a Group One, but he’s good.”
The Goodwood, run under set weights and penalties, will see Watchme Win carry 56kg — conceding 1.5kg to top-rated sprinter Giga Kick, who despite not winning since May 2023, is the all-in favourite and rated 24 points higher. Watchme Win currently sits as an $18 chance with betting sites.
“I wish it was a handicap, that would’ve helped but that’s the way it goes, it is how it is,” Gluyas said.
“I reckon it is (wide open) for them all, a lot of those mares are in good form out of the Sangster, so it should be good.”
“It’s the right time to have a crack, if the race was somewhere else, well, maybe not but at home, you may as well.”
“Winning a Goodwood, that’d be alright, wouldn’t it?”