The handicappers are taking their toll on General Salute’s chances in the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle, but co-trainer Gerald Ryan insists the gelding is presenting in his best-ever form.
A winner of two Group 3 races, General Salute has been allocated 59kg, two kilograms less than topweight Pericles, who has a Group 1 on his resume and five Group 2s.
“The weights, they haven’t missed him,” Ryan said.
“He’s got a benchmark rating of 111 and he’s only won a Group Three race. He hasn’t even won a Group Two. With these benchmarks, there’s five benchmark points between him and Pericles, and I know it’s a quality handicap, but that’s supposed to be two-and-a-half kilos difference, and there’s only two. Then when you look at the other horses that are supposed to be two-and-a-half kilos less than us, they are.”
“(But) he looks well, probably the best I’ve seen him look. Big, strong. He’s going really well.”
After an initial victory in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), General Salute fought on gamely when fifth in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) on October 10. He then enjoyed a short spell at a farm before returning to the stable to ready himself for Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter (1300m).
This preparation strategy is a common and successful one for Ryan and his training partner Sterling Alexiou, with General Salute having only two unplaced runs in his last 13 starts.
“We always space his runs,” Ryan explained. “After he had his last start we sent him to the farm and the water walker for ten days, which we’ve done a few times, and aimed to bring him back for this race fresh-up. That’s why he’s been able to have an extended program. He gets lots of little holidays.”
Tim Clark will be in the saddle for General Salute from barrier 10 in the full field of 16 runners, plus six emergencies.
The race is set to be the career finale for the nine-year-old warhorse Coal Crusher, who has won The Hunter twice in 2023 and 2025, and will be competing at the meeting for the fifth year in succession.
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