While most of the action was at Flemington on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup, the Andrew Gluyas trained Justify (USA) gelding Air Assault was creating his own piece of history at Morphettville, winning the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) for the third consecutive year.
Won on back-to-back occasions by Dynamic Hero (2009/10) and Regalo Di Gaetano (2020/21), no horse has been successful in the past of securing the race on three occasions...until now.
Dropping back in class from his last start ninth in the G3 Coongy Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield where he was beaten eight lengths, the gelding was reunited with regular jockey Jason Holder at his home track on Tuesday where he jumped the race favourite.
From barrier four in the 11-horse field, Holder took Air Assault forward to lead and under a moderate tempo, he was able to control the race throughout.
Taking the field into the home straight, Air Assault was still under a tight hold from Holder who was too strong in the run to the line to take the prize by a half-length margin.
Interestingly, of Air Assault’s 43 races, Holden has been on board the gelding on 30 occasions, having recorded ten wins on him including all eight stakes races with his overall prizemoney haul of $1,049,380.
John Letts Cup | Air Assault 'He wants the three-peat, he's got the three-peat!' Air Assault makes it THREE John Letts Cup wins in a row! ?? ?? Ch. 78/68 or via our app REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy https://t.co/VfGtEO5cjT
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2026
“Geez I’ve been lucky,” said Holder, the only jockey to win on Air Assault across his 43 starts, said. “I think I put it more down to getting on him at the right time, and I know lot about him."
“He responded when I asked him to, he needed to, I could feel his wheels spinning a bit on the corner.
“I said ‘I need you to find another length, and he did do so’.”
“He brought his form back, we’ve both been out of form, me and Air Assault, we’ve both got out of the rabbit hole,” he said.
“You have a couple of quiet weeks, and you go ‘gee’ – you’re not used to it.
“I’ve got a great partner, and I’ve got great support. Without the support, you can’t get out of it.
“I’m grateful for the owners sticking by me with Air Assault. It’s a good training performance by Andrew.
“It’s (also) nice to get another winner for Lettsy – he’s a jet – to win the John Letts Medal and (the race) in his honour is great.”
Bred by Hary Perks' The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, Air Assault was passed in short of his $100,000 reserve when consigned by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds to the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Raised at South Australia’s Mill Park Stud, Air Assault is a half-brother to G1 ATC Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go, G3 winner Essay Raider, and the G3 placed Battle Brewing. He is the third stakes-winner among seven winners from eight to race for the outstanding producer Elegant Eagle, who was pensioned in 2023.
A winning daughter of champion sire Zabeel, Elegant Eagle is a sister to the dam of G1 Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed from the family of Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha.
Southern Speed is at stud in Japan and is the dam of the promising Cosmo Kuranda, a G2-winning, multiple G1 placed son of Al Ain.
Air Assault is one of 72 international stakes winner for Coolmore's Justify, who has not shuttled to Australia since 2023, while his multiple G1-winning, Champion son City Of Troy (USA) is covering his second local book of mares at a fee of $49,500 (inc. GST) alongside his Magic Millions winning son Storm Boy who is also covering his second book of mares this season, standing for $16,500 (inc. GST).
