Generalife will have the fourth race start of his spring preparation in the 2014 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown on Saturday and trainer Jason Walsh believes that the talented sprinter is now at peak fitness.
Generalife has the chance to return to winning form in the 2014 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Generalife finished his winter preparation with three straight victories, including impressive wins in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 5 and the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on July 19, but he has been unable to record a race win during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
The Lonhro gelding returned to racing in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and he finished a luckless fourth after being blocked for a run in the final stages of the race before he once again had no luck when he finished third behind Lucky Hussler and Under The Louvre in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18.
Generalife hit the line strongly to finish third behind Hucklebuck and Alma’s Fury in the Group 3 Yellowglen Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day and Walsh told Racing Ahead this morning that you can’t knock the form coming out of any of Generalife’s race starts this preparation
“He had no luck at Caulfield, he was wide throughout, and he stuck on really well on Derby Day behind the horse that went on to run the Emirates, so there is nothing wrong with his form whatsoever,” Walsh said.
“He has had a run at Sandown for a win and in his fourth race back there is nothing lacking in terms of fitness.
“He will be right there again we suspect.”
Generalife is one of a number of talented sprinters that has been included in the 2014 Kevin Heffernan Stakes and the Group 3 event is set to be one of the most exciting races on the Sandown card this weekend.
Reparations returned to racing with an impressive win at big odds in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 4 and will be stepping up to Group level for the first time since he failed to fire in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, while the likes of Fast ‘N’ Rocking, Flamberge and Charlie Boy will also be backing up from credible performances during the 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Generalife is currently available at 2014 Kevin Heffernan Stakes odds of $4 and is a narrow favourite from Fast ‘N’ Rocking ($5), Reparations ($5.50), Charlie Boy ($5.50) and Flamberge ($7.50).
