The winner of three of his first four starts at two, culminating in the defeat of Anamoe, Jigsaw, Kallos, Extreme Warrior and Hitotsu in the 2021 Blue Diamond Prelude, the 5-year-old entire General Beau has gone 111 weeks without a win before Saturday’s Listed Resimax Group Always Welcome Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
With Jamie Kah in the saddle for Mathew Ellerton, the son of Brazen Beau defeated the stubborn Aster mare Parisal by a long-neck with the Time For War gelding It'sourtime a neck back in third.
Bred and raced by David and Jenny Moodie and Nick and Gayle Psaltis, General Beau advances his record to five wins, seven seconds and three thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $981,725.
“It was good to see him back in the winner's stall,” Ellerton said.
“A nice steady speed early that they were able to land on, which he probably hasn’t been able to do comfortably for a while.
“Any win is a good win, and we’ll take it here on the final day.
“He has been a bit frustrating, but he is always thereabouts. He’s still an entire, so maybe he does think a little bit, but it looked a good race for him today.
“Went a steady speed and he was comfortable and strong late.
“Jamie is riding in good form, and unfortunately, Damian (Lane) is suspended, so he couldn’t take the ride on him today.
“I wouldn’t mind the idea of backing him up next week over 1400-metres (Rupert Clarke Stakes). Never tried him at 1400, but worth a thought - I don’t see why not.
General Beau is the best of three winners from six to race for the lightly raced Lonhro mare Phosphorescence, a half-sister to stakes-placed Double Jeopardy (Exceed and Excel) out of the top-class Nediym's Glow (General Nediym), whose four wins included the Group III Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes and Group III Blue Diamond Prelude.
Nediym's Glow finished second to the flying Gold Edition in the Group II Reisling Slipper at Rosehill. In behind was the future Group 1 winner, Anamato (Redoute's Choice), the dam of Anamoe.
A half-sister to Group III winner Red Colossus, Nediym's Glow is a granddaughter of Starlit Queen (Sir Tristram), a sister to the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Starline out of the flying Star Kingdom mare Starlit.
Phosphorescence has a 2-year-old brother to General Beau but has slipped in her last two seasons.
