Pencarrow Stud-bred galloper Desert General (Commands x Zygadene) is off to a winning start in his four-year-old season, triumphing in the A$16,000 Bribie Island/Bisley Farm Class 2 Handicap (1200m) at Sunshine Coast yesterday.

A winner of three races from only six starts, Desert General debuted as a three-year-old last season, winning over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast. He returned to the Sunshine Coast to claim a second win over 1600m.

Trained by leading Queensland trainer Liam Birchley, Desert General was highly regarded as three-year-old and competed against the best of his age group in the Group 2 Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben over 2000m.

Commencing Sunday’s race from barrier 3 for jockey Damian Browne, Desert General started as the race-favourite and justified the support with a strong three-quarter-length victory over Loaded And Ready (Minardi) and Stonecast (Show A Heart) who finished in second and third place.

The four-year-old gelding was purchased by Liam Birchley’s LDM Ltd at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Sale for $320,000 from Pencarrow Stud.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, the son of Commands is out of winning Zabeel mare Zygadene who is a full-sister to stakes winning Lafleur (Zabeel), including winner of the Group 2 Royal Stakes and fourth placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.