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By Ray Hickson

What’s the bigger issue for General Salute – the 58kg or the outside barrier?

Trainer Sterling Alexiou (Pic: Bradley Photos).

That was the first question posed to co-trainer Sterling Alexiou as the progressive gelding chases a hat-trick in the Group 3 $250,000 TAB Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

It didn’t take Alexiou long to pinpoint it, he says the 5kg rise from his win under 53kg in the Star Kingdom is going to sort out just how promising General Salute is.

“I would have thought the weight is more of a concern than the barriers, especially at the Randwick 1200m,’’ he said.

“Although it’s a set weights and penalty race the handicapper has got at him pretty quick, he’s gone up 25 points in his last two runs.

“I think the handicapper is trying to catch up to him. That jump from 53 to 58, that’s the bigger question mark.

“He’s in career best form and he’s always shown good promise, it’s just taken a while for things to click with him.”

General Salute, $4.60 with TAB on Thursday, ran the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 34.05 (Punter’s Intelligence) and last 200m of 11.31 when he ran down Dragonstone and Ostraka, opponents again on Saturday, at Rosehill.

Alexiou, who co-trains with Gerald Ryan, said the Randwick 1200m start is far less of a concern than the same trip at Rosehill, as it was shown last weekend, so he feels the horse can overcome it.

“Sectionally he’s been fantastic late in his last two starts and I see no reason why it won’t continue,’’ he said.

“He tends to get back and find his feet, at the 1200m down the chute at Randwick barriers aren’t the be all and end all.

“A bit of rain around wouldn’t hurt his chances, he likes getting his toe in the ground.”

The Hall Mark will be a fork in the road for General Salute and Alexiou hinted another win, especially under these conditions, might encourage them to be a bit adventurous.

“We haven’t penned anything down beyond Saturday so it might be a bit of a defining moment in terms of where we head with him,’’ he said.

Fleeting Spirit is being given the chance to earn a bit of black type before a spell if she can bounce off her maiden win in the Group 3 $250,000 Mostyncopper James H B Carr Stakes (1400m).

While the horse she beat at Kensington last month, Monte Veebee, was beaten at Albury on Thursday he’s confident she is all upside.

“It’s a big jump in grade, we’re probably having a bit of a throw at the stumps,’’ he said.

“We thought we’d give her a chance, she’ll probably have this and go to the paddock and be a much improved mare come spring time.

“Whether or not she measures up in stakes grade on Saturday I’m sure she will make that level in the next 12 or 18 months.”

A decision will be made on Saturday whether Ballroom Bella contests the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m) at Randwick or the Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on Monday.

Alexiou said it was encouraging to see the mare resume with a win on the Kensington track on March 26 given the improvement to come.

“She drew out a bit at Randwick but barriers aren’t everything there. She’s in really good order, I’m sure wherever she lines up she’ll put her best foot forward,’’ he said.

General Salute wins at Rosehill on April 1

“She has won first-up in the past but as she’s got a bit older she tends to improve with the run.

“I thought Braith (Nock) rode her inch perfect, obviously she was back a fair bit in grade but it was good to get another win and a bit of confidence with her moving forward.”

All the fields, form and replays for All Aged Stakes Day at Randwick