Five horses wearing the orange and green were first past the post this week.
Coupe Express won the 5th at Hamilton last Monday over 1400 metres. It was a masterly ride by Dean Yendall who hugged the rail while the well fancied Chicago Miss sought wider ground. Race favourite Littleriver Ruby was a further length away in third.
Three days later the General (pictured) saluted at Headquarters.
55.0kgs might be as light as Steven Arnold
can ride – but he was happy to accept the ride at that weight on General Truce in the listed Fashions On The Field Stakes over 1000 metres on Oaks day.
General Truce had drawn ideally in the middle of the crack field that were expected to race down the centre of the Flemington straight.
Canali, I Get Around and Zaratone set a strong pace. Arnold was happy to settle General Truce at the rear but in the middle of the field where he had protection from the swirly winds. The others maintained a quick tempo in the early part, causing the commentator to declare “…General Truce looks to be battling only…” On cue General Truce reeled off three sizzling sub eleven sectionals (10.19, 10.23, 10.83) from the eight hundred to burst through a tiring field to win from race favourite Golden Archer by 0.75 length.
Ricky Maund had placed the gelding well. He had been beaten by 0.2 lengths just two weeks earlier at Moonee Valley over 1200 metres after carrying 59.5kgs. Prior to the race Ricky was upbeat advising that General Truce’s track work had been outstanding.
The win pushed the Brief Truce gelding’s earnings beyond $600,000. It was his second win at black type level, and came three years and a day after his Group 3 win in the Maribyrnong Plate – at the same venue and distance.
He has raced consistently winning on six occasions and currently holds the track record at Moonee Valley over 955 metres. He has finished in the top 4 at black type level on twelve occasions including a 3.5 length third behind Black Caviar.
Yesterday over a mile at Balnarring race favourite Civility ridden by Clayton Douglas broke his maiden status for trainer Peter Healey.
Later that day Prefect trained by Neville Saunders was superbly ridden by Lacey Morrison who took the grey to the lead in the first at Toowoomba. She crossed and steadied the tempo. Stamp Of Authority moved up to apply pressure, but Lacey sat patiently and Prefect proved too strong for her tiring rival. Prefect was first to the line chased by race favourite Spent.
And Gold Copy, in the care of Barry Lockwood broke her maiden status at the Sunshine Coast over 1400 metres today. Jockey Scott Galloway settled the mare in third position a length behind the two race favourites. Then after entering the straight crossed over the back of heels to draw level and away to win by three quarters of a length.
Four of the five winners were bred at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm, including two first time winners, Civility and Gold Copy who became the 52nd and 53rd individual winners bred at the farm.
