General Salute will not be utilising a ballot exemption for the Epsom Handicap, despite securing it with his victory at Randwick. His trainers are now aiming for a race of similar value seven days later.
The six-year-old, who started at $12, achieved his third black-type success in Saturday’s Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m). He tracked the leader Matcha Latte ($13) before getting the better of him in the closing stages to win the Group 3 event by a half-length.
Throughout his career, General Salute had been hampered by foot issues, but these have not presented problems this season, which has been evident in his recent performances.
“Tim (Clark) trialled him the other day. He’s got a great association with him, and he said it was the best he’d ever felt,” co-trainer Sterling Alexiou revealed. “He landed in a nice spot in a sit-and-sprint race. He’s a lot better with a bit of cut out of the track, but he’s going great.”
While the winner of the Bill Ritchie receives exemption from the Epsom Handicap (1600m) ballot, Alexiou indicated that the feature mile race was not on their agenda.
Instead, General Salute is being pointed towards the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at their home track of Rosehill on October 10, with both races offering a $1.5 million prizemoney purse.
“He hasn’t had the preparation now (for an Epsom),” Alexiou stated. “We missed a run the other week in the Tramway. He spiked a bit of a temperature a month ago, so he’ll probably go to the Alan Brown now.”
General Salute was returning after a successful off-season campaign that included a win in the Winter Stakes (1400m) and placings in the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) and Winter Challenge (1500m).
Clark mentioned that he hadn’t intended to race as close to the pace as he did, but was pleased with the outcome, agreeing with Alexiou that the horse was in prime condition.
“He landed a little bit closer to the speed than I thought,” Clark commented. “I was happy to be there the way the race was being run. He seems like he’s matured and he’s a very talented horse.”
The $4 favourite, Headley Grange, ran a typical solid race to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind the second-place finisher.
For the latest racing odds, check out these Australian betting sites.
