Fresh is best as Ryan hunts breakthrough win on Newcastle program

Résumé détaillé

Gerald Ryan believes General Salute is in peak condition as the Rosehill trainer strives for not just a first win in the $1million The Hunter, but a breakthrough victory on the…

Gerald Ryan believes General Salute is in peak condition as the Rosehill trainer strives for not just a first win in the $1million The Hunter, but a breakthrough victory on the annual standalone program at Newcastle.

The Ryan and Sterling Alexiou yard, winners two weeks ago of the Golden Eagle with Skyhook, will send General Salute to the 1300m feature and also Just Party to the benchmark 94 handicap consolation race.

The stable has had just one runner, Standout, across seven editions of the Hunter, and it finished 11th in 2021. Ellsberg (2020) and Donandkim (2019) were third in the group 3 Spring Stakes, and Good Hotspur was second in the 2024 Max Lees Classic for the team among a handful of runners on the Hunter programs.

Ryan said The Hunter has always been on the radar for General Salute this preparation, which has featured a freshen up after a campaign taking in victory in the Winter Stakes and placings in two other listed Sydney races.

The six-year-old, which has overcome feet problems and bone-chip surgery, then won the group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap and was one and a half lengths fifth in the Alan Brown Stakes at 1400m.

He returns at 1300m on Saturday, five weeks after his Alan Brown run, with Tim Clark aboard the $9 hope from gate 10.

“When he goes this far between runs, we send him to the farm and he goes on the water treadmill, has a week or 10 days there and then comes back.

“He’s no star, but he’s a good, honest little horse that keeps paying his way.”

General Salute became a 59 kilogram top weight with the scratching of Russell Balding Stakes winner Pericles (61kg), which is heading to the group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Sandown.

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