Trainer John O’Shea will aim Generalife at the lower end of the feature races in the up-coming Spring Carnival after the four year old scored a hat trick of wins with a comfortable victory in the Listed $100,000 Myer Fashion Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on last Saturday.
Generalife scores a hat trick wins with his victory at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo by Steve Hart.
O’Shea has Generalife racing in peak form but is mindful of his limitations as he maps out a Spring program for the rising five year old.
“This is his level,” O’Shea told AAP.
“He is a good Listed, Group Three type of horse and he loves a dry track.
“He is a horse in a good frame of mind and Kerrin is riding really well. He just gets the job done.”
O’Shea will shy clear of the top level contests and has selected the Group 3 $250,000 TAB.com.au Stakes (formerly known as the Chatham Stakes) (1400m) at Flemington on November 1 as a likely target for the Lonhro gelding.
Number one stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy has ridden Generalife at two of his last three wins, last Saturday’s Winter Stakes win plus a win in a BenchMark 85 (1350m) at Rosehill on June 14 while apprentice Sam Clipperton was successful two starts back in the Listed $100,000 Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill on July 5.
“It’s good to see him put a few together,” McEvoy said.
“He is jumping well and getting into a good spot which helps.”
Saturday’s win took Generalife’s prizemoney to over $355,000 from eight wins from twenty-one starts.
McEvoy continued his good form since returning from a short break with the win on Generalife one of three winners he rode at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Gerald Ryan had provided McEvoy with his first winner for the day when Runway Star took out the $85,000 Lambrokes.com.au BenchMark 74 Handicap for three year olds (1200m) then the top rider wrapped up his treble with a win on Evangelist in the $85,000 Alpha Flight Services BenchMark 80 Handicap (1500m) for his father Tony.
McEvoy only returned from a short break during the week but was quick to get back in the swing with an early double at Warwick Farm on Wednesday on two year old Abduction in the TAB Early Quaddie Handicap (1300m) and three year old Copy in the Pro-Ride Handicap (1400m) for O’Shea.
