With his oldest progeny just three year-olds, Mint Lane has only had 16 runners, but things look promising as in addition to the six winners he has had a further 6 place getters.
Sold by Willow Grove Stud at the 2013 Adelaide Magic Millions sale for $31,000 Star
General is the third live foal from the Zabeel mare Lifting and is from the
Family of VAIN DISPLAY, TOLTRICE, SELTRICE and ALMURTAJAZ.David and Ryan Balfour picked Star General out for Singapore clients and sent the colt to trainer Leslie Khoo in Singapore shortly before David's death.
"David was a good trainer and had a good eye for horses. I don't know much about Star General's sire, but he told me this one would go well over more ground," said the Singaporean trainer.
Ridden by Alan Munro in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1100m on Polytrack, Star General bounced straight to the front from his inside lane, but eventually handed up the lead when newcomers So The Thing (Corey Brown) and Sun Pioneer (Benny Woodworth) shot past as they went waging a speed battle.
Sun Pioneer got the upper hand in the end while Star General took the drop on them from the back straight before being angled out for his move around the home turn. Upon straightening, So The Thing faded, but Sun Pioneer was in no mood to abdicate as he gave another kick to give the Star General something to chase.
Well ridden by Munro, Star General responded to the challenge as he gradually wore Sun Pioneer down before drawing clear for a comfortable two-length victory.
The winning time was 1min 5.66secs.
"I changed the winkers to blinkers and he was a lot more relaxed tonight and I think drawing barrier No 1 also helped him. Hopefully, he can improve further," said Munro, who was pleasantly surprised how Star General was so collected throughout the race.
"He was a bit keen in his previous two races but today he was very professional and very relaxed," said the English jockey.
"I was very happy with the way he quickened in the home straight."
Mint Lane stands at Willow Grove Stud ,Woodside SA for a service fee of $3300
