Unbeaten in two starts this campaign, General Salute faces a pair of significant challenges if he is to extend his wining sequence in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick.
The four-year-old has drawn the outside barrier in a field reduced to 11 by two early scratchings, while also rising five kilos on his last start win in the Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m).
Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou acknowledges the task General Salute faces but says he cannot fault the horse at home.
“He is airborne this preparation,” Alexiou said.
“He hasn’t had a thing go wrong and he will run really well.
“He is up five kilos and has the widest barrier, they’re our only concerns, but we can’t fault him.”
General Salute’s past two wins have been at Kembla Grange and Rosehill but he finished runner-up to Mumbai Muse in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at his only other start over the Randwick 1200m circuit.
He has settled midfield or worse and unleashed a powerful sprint in both campaign runs and Alexiou expects the gelding to appreciate the expansive Randwick track.
“He jumps really well, he just doesn’t quite have that muster to go with them early over six furlongs, but I think the Randwick 1200 will suit him,” Alexiou said.
“It will give him a chance to balance up and get in a good rhythm and his last couple of starts he has peeled off some really good sectionals.
“If he keeps going the way he’s going he will be really hard to beat on Saturday.”
The Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) has been a handy Brisbane winter carnival launch pad, Redzel successful in 2017 before going on to claim the Doomben 10,000 at his next start, while 2019 winner Trekking won that year’s Stradbroke Handicap.
