General Command back to his best in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR - Placed only once since his last win 18 months ago, former Singapore galloper General Command made a winning debut in Malaysia, where he easily took out the RM62,000 (S$18,700) Supreme A race (1,200m) in Race 7 at Sungai Besi on Feb 23.
A winner of five races at Kranji over 1,100 and 1,200m, the Shalaa six-year-old's last win came in a Class 2 race (1,100m) on Aug 13, 2023 when he was trained by Richard Lim.
The next time he was seen on the podium was when he finished second in a Class 3 race (1,100m) on Sept 1, 2024.
Resuming after his last-start eighth in Singapore on Oct 5, General Command was brilliantly away under jockey Jackson Low Kang Cheng and held a clear early lead.
Awesome Storm (Tuan Ammar) joined him at the 800m and, shortly after, the Simon Dunderdale-trained gelding shot to the front as he always does. Low eased his mount back to track Awesome Storm into the home straight.
General Command ($43) ranged alongside Awesome Storm at the top of the straight and began to pull away at the 200m.
Shirvo (Aify Yahaya) issued a strong challenge in the final 100m but General Command held him at bay to win by half a length.
Awesome Storm finished another 1½ lengths away in third.
The winning time was 1min 10.57sec for the 1,200m on the short course.
Trainer Joseph Leck pointed out the short course worked in General Command's favour.
"This horse (General Command) came to me in good condition from (trainer) Richard. I didn't have to do much with him as he has shown in Singapore he had a certain level of ability," said the Singaporean handler.
"Today, the short course suited him.
"Moving forward, he should be a nice horse for racing in Malaysia. I want to thank the Singapore owners (Lordship Stable) for their faith in me."
Leck also brought up a double after Two Million ($21) – also transferred to him after training under Lim in Singapore – sprinted home under apprentice Clyde Leck to win the RM32,000 Class 5B race (1,300m) in the last event on Feb 22.
Low said the plan was to lead or take up a handy position from the start.
"My instructions were to take advantage of the barrier draw (two) and light weight (52kg) to go forward," he said. "But if someone wanted to take the lead, I would take a sit.
"When Awesome Storm took the lead, I was happy to trail behind him.
"I slowly eased him out from the rails at the 600m and he ran on very well to win."
General Command raced at the top level in Australia when known as Hunnam.
He was a two-year-old winner at Caulfield, Victoria, and was placed three times in 10 starts.
One of them was a third to Najmaty in the Listed Redoute's Choice Stakes (1,100m) at Caulfield on March 19, 2021.
In Singapore, he ran in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1,200m) and the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1,200m) in 2023, albeit without success.
SELANGOR TURF CLUB/TURFONLINE
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