Talented sprinter General Truce is set to return to the races for the first time since the 2014 Newmarket Handicap in Heat Six of the 2014 All Victorian Sprint Series at Flemington on Saturday.
General Truce will carry the top weight of 60 kilograms in the All Victorian Sprint Series this weekend. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
General Truce started his summer preparation with a narrow win in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 18 and finished a close second behind Shamal Wind in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 1.
The Brief Truce gelding returned to Group 1 level in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and could only battle home fairly to finish 12th and he was unable to match the likes of Lankan Rupee, Spirit Of Boom and Knoydart for acceleration in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
Trainer Ricky Maund said that he was thrilled with the form of General Truce at the start of his summer campaign and told Racing Victoria that he is hoping the honest sprinter can replicate that form in the All Victorian Sprint Series this weekend.
“I thought midway through last preparation that he showed signs that he was going the best he has in his career,” Maund said.
“He’s not much bigger now than he was when he was a two-year-old but it’s just all about the motor that he’s got inside.
“99.9 per cent of the time he gives 110 per cent.
“He’s been a pleasure to have around, he’s very easy to handle and he’s got a bit of character about him.”
General Truce has generally performed well first-up, with his sixth place finish in the 2013 Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) and fourth place finish in the 2013 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) the only time that he has missed the placings at the start of his campaign, and Maund was impressed with the six-year-olds performance in a barrier trial over 800 metres at Cranbourne on May 26.
“His trial was very good and I think he’s weighted to win at the weight scale on Saturday,” Maund said,
“We’ll just be guided by the weather because his turn of foot isn’t as sharp as the tracks get wetter.
“I’ll use Saturday’s race as a guide to where we go to from there.”
The All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 6 has drawn a strong field; with Group 3 winner Broken, the resuming Shanghai Warrior, last start winner Nearest To Pin and the in-form Big Buddie all included in the field for the $100,000 race.
