A drop in weight and a good barrier drew for General Truce has Cranbourne trainer Ricky Maund excited leading into Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
General Truce and Nicholas Hall (orange and green) winning the D C McKay Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
General Truce came up with barrier three in the eighteen horse field and drops two and a half kilos on his last start win in the Group 3 $115,000 DC McKay Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 27.
Maund has General Truce racing in the best form of his career and took him to Adelaide after winning over 1000m at Flemington two starts back.
“If he’s going to win a feature race over 1200m, he’s a chance of doing it on Saturday,” Maund said.
“He’s weighted well enough to be competitive.”
General Truce meets Goodwood hopefuls Karacatis, Conservatorium and Riziz better at the weights after beating them home in the McKay Stakes while Peter Moody says that race favourite Moment Of Change is not treated well at the weights.
“It looks a nice race for him, he’s probably not treated well at the weights against some of the others,” Moody said.
Maund has watched General Truce mature over the last twelve months and even though the five year old is yet to win over the Goodwood distance, he knows he was developed enough to be handle 1200m.
“Twelve months ago, he wouldn’t have been able to run 1200m, but he might have a sneaky little chance now. Especially at the weights,” Maund said.
“As he’s got older, he seems to be a little bit more relaxed.”
Nicholas Hall brought General Truce from the tail of the field to win at Morphettville two weeks ago but Maund is hoping he can take advantage of the good gate on Saturday.
“We’ve just got to be positive enough out of the gates to not get too far back in a big field,” Maund said.
“You use that advantage a little bit and he’ll probably have a much cosier run than he did the start before.
“There will probably be a little bit of pace in the race so, hopefully, he’s good enough to peel off their backs.”
Moment Of Change disappointed when tenth to Pierro in the Group 1 $350,000 Cellarbrations Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on March 23 after two excellent seconds to super star stable mate Black Caviar at Flemington.
Moody is confident the Group 1 winner is back to his best and has freshened up nicely as he showed in a Sandown jumpout last week.
“He’s in good shape, he trialled well last week at Sandown and I’m very pleased with his condition,” Moody said.
“He’s a big strong horse and I’m happy with where he’s at.”
Multple Group 1 winner Yosei is the best weighted horse in the race and only has to carry 52.5kg under the set weights and penalties conditions.
“Obviously giving six kilos to the likes of Yosei is a bit of a concern but he races on the speed and makes his own luck,.” Moody said.
Moment Of Change continues to firm in the betting and is currently the $2.10 favourite with Yosei the second pick at $8 just ahead of Queensland sprinter Facile Tigre at $8.50.
General Truce is a $18 chance.
