General Truce has been a tough trooper for Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm’s O’Brien family winning 9 times in 48 starts since his debut over four years ago.
The six year-old gelding is partial to Flemington’s straight course and he was back in business on Saturday to claim the LR Kensington Stakes (1000m) at headquarters. Gravitating to the grandstand side, he got the better of Pocket Rockets and the favourite Kaiser Sun to score in a close finish.
General Truce (6g Brief Truce – General Resolve by General Nediym) got going as a spring two year-old in the G3 VRC Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington in November 2009 and his other black-type victories include the G3 McKay Stakes in Adelaide and a Listed sprint at Flemington during the 2012 Melbourne Cup carnival.
He also won a Mazda BT-50 for trainer Ricky Maund after clocking 55.28s in the Moonee Valley Challenge in March 2012.
“He’s been a great horse for the stable and the O’Briens,” Maund said. “He’s always under the radar but he always produces. Now will have a crack at the Group 1 Lightning Stakes here next month.”
Kevin and Tanith O’Brien and their son James bred him from General Resolve and she has also foaled G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Arctic Command (Freeze) and Adelaide Magic Millions runner-up Complete Control (Rubiton).
The mare is related to the Marscay speed merchants Jetball (G1 AJC Galaxy Hcp) and Marwina (G3 AJC Stan Fox Stakes). Her only other foal is Testa Rossa 3yo filly Swiftly Red who was due to debut at Cranbourne on Sunday.
General Truce is a son of Independent Stallions stalwart Brief Truce who was pensioned in 2011.
Brief Truce (Irish River) was a Group 1 winner of the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before shuttling to Woodlands Stud in the 1990s. He was considered a failure in NSW and was subsequently sold to stand in Switzerland.
Victorian based Independent Stallions owner Mike Becker decided to give Brief Truce a second chance and he hit pay-dirt siring Diatribe (G1 Rosehill Guineas & Caulfield Cup), So Gorgeous (G2 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes & Ascot Vale Stakes) and True Jewels (G1 Blue Diamond).
Lauriston Farm topped the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale with 6 lots averaging $194,167. The Corinella based nursery has another 9 yearlings entered this year including an Encosta de Lago filly (Lot 121) from General Truce’s half-sister Complete Control.
– Karl Patterson