The decision whether General Beau lines up in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes does not seem any closer to resolution after the strapping son of Brazen Beau scored a heart-stopping win in Saturday’s Group II Neds Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for colts and geldings at Caulfield.
General Beau hangs on (Grant Courtney)
Ridden by Jamie Kah, the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained colt nosed out Godolphin’s Anamoe, denying Darley stallion Street Boss (USA) siring the two divisions of the Prelude.
The Manhattan Rain colt Jigsaw was a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Connections will need to shell out out for a late nomination fee if General Beau is to take his place in the$1.5 million Neds Blue Diamond Stakes in a fortnight.
“That’s a decision to be made. We’ll have the conversation later in the week and see how he pulls up” co-trainer Matthew Ellerton said.
Coming off a win in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, General Beau advances his record to three wins and a second from four starts with earnings of $316,500.
Bred and raced by David and Jenny Moodie and Nick and Gayle Psaltis, General Beau is the second winner from four to race out of the lightly raced Lonhro mare Phosphorescence.
A half-sister to stakes-placed Double Jeopardy (Exceed and Excel), Phosphorescence is 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.
