3 minute read

Handy sprinter General Truce continued a terrible day for the punters when he came from well back to overhaul the well supported Golden Archer notching up his third victory in stakes company.

On a day which saw only one favourite salute in the first eight races, General Truce settled in nicely off the speed for Steven Arnold, and relished the drop back to a 1000m, powering home late to beat the ever consistent Golden Archer.

"He's a lovely little short course horse he likes that speed on and he hits the line really hard," Arnold said.

"Bit further and he struggles a bit so it was a perfect race for him today."

Resuming in good order this time in, General Truce followed up on his good run at Mooney Valley when finishing a close second behind Sea Lord over 1200m.

"He's [Trainer] brought this bloke back from the 1200m the other day, he freshened him up beautifully, travelled like the winner and all credit to them," Arnold said.

"He's only a little pony and that's his go, he's got really good form at that trip [1000m]."

Although he was unwanted on course starting the race a $17 outsider, Cranbourne based trainer Ricky Maund felt the decision by Steven Arnold to ride his galloper was a good indication of his chances heading into the race.

"Steve [Arnold] was more than happy with the way he run last start and he doesn't ride at 55kg much and he was adamant that he was going to waste that little bit extra and ride him because the horse is in good form," Maund said.

While he is renowned as a 955m Mooney Valley specialist, Maund felt that he has continued to make good improvement over the past year and isn't such a one dimensional horse anymore.

"Going back 12 months or so he was probably a length or two of this company but as he's getting a little bit older he's becoming a bit more adaptable with his racing," Maund said.

"You can ride him up there on the pace or you can ride him back a bit cold like he was third last today."