General Beau now boasts victories in both the Blue Diamond Preview and the Blue Diamond Prelude after taking out colts and geldings division of the Prelude at Caulfield.
The Ellerton/Zahra trained colt was strong throughout the race and, after fighting off a series of challengers early in the straight, he looked to have the race safely in his keeping inside the last 150m, but then Anamoe, in the royal blue silks of Godolphin, make a late surge along the rail to get within the proverbial whisker of General Beau at the line with a photo finish … and perhaps a magnifying glass … being needed to officially decide the result which went in General Beau’s favour.
General Beau stopped the clock for at 1:03.58, a significantly quicker time than that clocked in the fillies division of the Prelude one race earlier which was won by Arcaded in 1:04.55.
“He was very good. I thought he might have been in behind the speed, but he ended up sharing the lead,” said co-trainer Matthew Ellerton.
“Going to the Blue Diamond is a decision that has still to be made. We would have to pay a late entry fee, so we’ll see how he pulls up and probably have that conversation during the week.
‘He just need pace,” said jockey Jamie Kah. “He had so much left, but he was just idling along … just pricking his ears.
“I’d love for them to push on to the Diamond. I think they’ll get what they need there … get some pace … and I think he will be a different horse chasing.
“I think he has got a lot more to give. He is just doing enough at the minute.”
General Beau shortened into $11 with Sportsbet for the Blue Diamond but connections will need to pay the late entry fee for him to line-up in the race.
Blue Diamond Stakes 🏆: View the Odds for the Blue Diamond Stakes
