General Salute has bypassed an Epsom Handicap start, opting instead for a race of similar value a week after his Randwick triumph.
The six-year-old, who went off at $12, notched his third black-type success in the Bill Ritchie Handicap over 1400 metres on Saturday. He stalked the leader Matcha Latte ($13) and managed to reel him in late to secure the Group 3 victory by a half-length.
Previously hampered by foot issues, General Salute has been free of these problems this season, which has been reflected in his current strong form.
“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 stated. “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.”
Despite earning ballot exemption for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) by winning the Bill Ritchie, Alexiou confirmed the mile feature was not on the horse’s agenda.
The gelding will instead be aimed at the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on October 10, with both races boasting a $1.5 million prize pool.
“He hasn’t had the preparation now (for an Epsom),” Alexiou added. “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 from a successful off-season campaign where he won the Winter Stakes (1400m) and achieved placings in the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) and Winter Challenge (1500m).
Jockey Tim Clark commented that he hadn’t planned to race as prominently as he did, but was content with his position given the race’s tempo, echoing Alexiou’s assessment of the horse’s peak condition.
“He landed a little bit closer to the speed than I thought,” Clark admitted. “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.”
Headley Grange, the $4 favourite, ran a typically solid race to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind the second-placed finisher.
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