General Salute capped off a remarkably successful spring carnival for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou with a thrilling victory in the Listed $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on Saturday.
Newcastle’s most lucrative race unfolded as a close battle between General Salute and She’s An Artist, with the former conceding 6kg to its competitors and ultimately winning by a nose.
The training duo has fielded less than 100 starters this season, achieving 13 wins, including six at stakes level, and accumulating close to $8 million in stable earnings. Their notable spring carnival triumphs include:
- Group 1 Golden Eagle – Skyhook
- Group 2 Theo Mark Stakes – Skyhook
- Group 2 Shannon Stakes – Skyhook
- Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap – General Salute
- Listed The Hunter – General Salute
- Listed The Rosebud – Chilly Girls
Although Skyhook’s spring achievements, particularly its Golden Eagle win, were the stable’s highlight, it was clear to Alexiou that General Salute’s Hunter victory held immense significance.
“I’d like to have another 10 horses like General Salute in the stable, I know that much, he is such a gutsy horse,” Alexiou commented. “But like the other day with Skyhook in the Golden Eagle I didn’t want to go up too early. I thought he just won but I wasn’t sold on the result. I’m glad he got his nose in front on the line.”
General Salute ($10) narrowly defeated She’s An Artist ($7) by a nose in a dramatic Hunter finish, with the favoured runner Sweynesday ($6) finishing a length and a half back in third.
Coal Crusher, the winner of The Hunter in 2023 and 2025, was retired from racing after finishing at the rear of the field.
This win marked General Salute’s sixth career victory from 22 starts, bringing his total earnings to over $1.6 million, though he had to earn his Hunter prize the hard way.
“I was happy where he was in the run but I noticed from about the 600m he was being hard ridden which is unusual for him but it was an indication of how quickly they were going up front,” Alexiou explained. “Then he made his run with She’s An Artist and to that horse’s credit, she was not going away. I was a bit worried she might get the better of him late as he was giving away quite a bit of weight (6kg) to the second horse but like he often does, he finds a way. He’s the ultimate professional because he gives everything he’s got in his races. There was a time when he went about 18 months without a win but he bumped into some really good horses. Although it is nice to run placings in those big races, nothing beats winning and he really deserved this win.”
For accomplished jockey Tim Clark, a self-professed Newcastle Knights fanatic, General Salute delivered his first win in The Hunter.
Clark admitted General Salute had to “fight hard” to outpoint She’s An Artist.
“He’s so tough and very honest,” Clark stated regarding the gelding. “The tempo was quite quick but he was relaxed until he came off the bridle in the middle stages. But he had saved his energy and was able to show that good turn of foot late.”
Clark confessed that he initiated General Salute’s run earlier due to the significant 59kg weight burden.
“I was mindful of the big weight and wanted to get him going a bit earlier so he could get through his gears,” Clark said. “To the second horse’s credit it kept coming with him and we couldn’t shake him off. He’s a horse I really enjoy riding and I’m glad he got his head down on the line. It was nice to get a big win on him.”
Alexiou confirmed that General Salute’s spring campaign, and the stable’s overall season, will continue beyond The Hunter.
“We will look at the Supernova at Pakenham in about a month’s time,” Alexiou stated. “He’s a horse that takes a little maintenance so the month between runs suits him. We’ve had a really good spring, I think we have done a great job with the ‘cattle’ we have got, placed them well and they have all won good races.”
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