General Offer Faces Toughest Career Test In Caulfield Guineas

Mt Macedon trainer John Symons has elected to run his three-year-old colt General Offer in the $1 million Caulfield Guineas this Saturday, where he currently sits as the rank outsider.

General Offer has won just one of his eight career starts, with his latest result being a third behind Umadeeus and Ezyaz Oscar in the Techroad Hire Handicap at Pakenham.

Symons admitted that they had originally opted not to run the General Nediym colt in the Caulfield Guineas.

“We were on track and we got derailed a little bit earlier in his preparation,” Symons said.

“(But) when there were only seven runners… we had another look at it.

“There’s eight horses and there’s $20,000 (prize money) for running eighth.”

Symons believes General Offer is capable of running up against the likes of Smart Missile and Manawanui in the race.

“The horse has always shown ability, he hasn’t run up to the ability he’s shown,” he said.

“He’s not in there just to run eighth… obviously it’s a huge task.

“He can race up on the pace on a 1,200 metre race so obviously he can go forward if we want him to… we won’t go there to be a bunny, we’ll go out there to try and do our best.”

No-matter the result come Saturday, Symons is confident that General Offer will have notched up a win by the end of the spring carnival.

“I think there’ll be a nice race for him sometime before the spring’s out,” he said.

 

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