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The connections of General Beau will need to pay a late entry fee to have the two-year-old contest Melbourne’s most prestigious two-year-old race, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, following the colt’s first-up win on Tuesday.
After a successful spring that saw General Beau win and place down the straight at Flemington, the son of Brazen Beau returned for an autumn campaign in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for colts and geldings at Caulfield.
It was a dogged fight for the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-prepared colt who dug deep under the urgings of Jamie Kah who notched her 50th metropolitan victory for the season with Tuesday's win.
General Beau ($3.80) defeated Extreme Warrior r ($6) by a half-length with the previously unbeaten Gulf Of Suez , the $3.40 favourite, a length away third.
The next round of the Blue Diamond series, the Blue Diamond Preview (1100m) at Caulfield on February 6 is likely to General Beau's next outing before a decision is made on whether the colt takes his place in the Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield on February 20.
"He's not in the Blue Diamond so that's a conversation we'll have to have but hopefully we'll get through a Prelude with him," Ellerton said.
"It looked like he was in a tricky spot on the home turn (today) and some of those out wider had a bit of momentum on him, but he was good enough to knuckle down and get the job done.
"He's really matured up fantastic from the spring. He had a really good break and he was a bit shin sore after his last run.
"Touch wood we've had a really faultless prep with him and hopefully he can make his way to a Prelude."
Kah, who has been combining successfully with the Ellerton and Zahra stable this season, said the Blue Diamond should be a race on General Beau's horizon.
"He's come back bigger and better this time," Kah said.
"He was such a baby in his first few starts and he still, on ability, got there when he won his first race, but today he was a lot more polished.
"I'll be happy to stay on for the ride. He's only going to get better as he gets further, but it's up to them.
"I'd be pushing in that (Blue Diamond) direction."
