General Salute wins Vanguard Assurance Cup

General salute last Saturday recorded his first big race victory this season as he secured the Vanguard Assurance Challenge Cup at the Accra Turf Club at Borteyman.

Owned by Godwin N.A. Corquaye and trained by young Addo Joe, General Salute was given a patient ride by jockey Daniel Abekah and maintained his calm from behind before throwing a challenge at about 600 metres to finish.

General Salute shrugged off competition from 13 other jockeys and horses, including Omar Sattout stable’s top rider Joseph Lamptey (Mr K), as well as two-time Gold Cup winner Issaka Gariba (Sly Mongoose) to take home the glittering trophy at stake, GH¢200 cash prize and other consolation items from sponsors. 

The competition, which attracted one of the largest crowds ever recorded this year, saw General Salute once again confirm his impeccable form against Mr K and Sly Mongoose (first and second runners-up respectively) as he finished in an impressive average time of 2:16 seconds over a distance of 1,600 metre (eight furlongs) in the Division 3B/4A race.

For finishing second and third, jockey Issaka Gariba and Joseph Lamptey received a cash prize of GH¢150 and GH¢100 respectively, together with souvenirs from sponsors. 

In the maidens’ event, which was run over a distance of 1,000 metres, it was Diplomatic Lady (Issaka Gariba) who also registered her first win after accelerating her gallop in the final metres.