Owner Jerry Narace has called time on the seven-year-old thoroughbred General JN’s racing career and the champion racehorse will now be embarking on a new journey as a Stallion. The Glenn Mendez-trained General JN will move to Barbados to stand at Glen Fruin Farm for the new chapter in his life.
General JN has thrilled the racing fraternity over the past five years and the chestnut horse which was born in 2015 has been exemplary showing off his speed, versatility, toughness and consistency.
The son of Forest Danger/Sea Treaty was first trained by champion trainer O’Brien and when he came to Santa Rosa Park, Arima, he came with a big reputation.
One thing was certain, he lived up to his billing winning both his starts as a juvenile and accumulated 16 lengths. On debut, he won the Nursery Stakes over 1,000 metres by seven lengths then followed up in the Grade Two - St James Stakes over 1,350 metres and won by nine lengths. There was no doubt that he was the best juvenile in training and he won the accolade of Champion Juvenile at the 2017 Jetsam awards ceremony.
O’Brien said: “He was a very good horse, well conformed and a major advantage is that he is good on both surfaces. He was a bit unfortunate in that going into the final leg of the Triple Crown, we found a chip in one of his ankles which interrupted his preparation for the Trinidad Derby and thus he was second in the Derby failing in his attempt to win the Triple Crown.”
A wonderful three-year-old season was anticipated and the thought of winning the ‘Triple Crown’ was first and foremost in the mind of trainer O’Brien and owner Narace alike.
As a three-year-old General JN looked likely to carry all before him when he won the first two legs of local racing’s ‘Triple Crown’. He took the Grade One - Guineas over 1,800m by 13 lengths and looked unbeatable before winning the second leg of the Midsummer Classic over 1,900m by four lengths. The ‘Triple Crown’ looked like a simple task, but that was not to be.
General JN’s Derby preparation was not the best as he suffered a setback which resulted in him being operated upon after the Derby by veterinarian Jonathan White. He had a fragment in a fetlock joint and this affected his performance and he was beaten by Cape Canaveral.
As a four-year-old General JN won the Grade Three - Presidents Cup over 1,900m before glittering in the Grade Three - Diamond Stakes over 1,350m. Punters and turfites alike were all coming out to see the “General” in full flight. This horse had won the hearts of turfites and punters alike with his speed, versatility, toughness and consistency. In his final start as a four-year-old, he finished fourth in the Grade One Gold Cup over 2,000 metres. General JN proved that he was a worthy competitor as had won from 1000 metres to 1,900m at the centralised venue Santa Rosa Park.
The saga of General JN continued as he became the highest-rated horse in training, however, he could not land any of the big races finishing second in the Grade One Stewards Cup, the Grade Three Santa Rosa dash both over 1,200m. He then came back to finish second in the Grade Three - Presidents Cup over 1,900m before finishing a good third in Grade One, Gold Cup over 2,000m.
As a six-year-old General JN changed stable and went to former champion trainer Mendez and he immediately had success with the top thoroughbred as he won his first start on the turf - namely the Sian’s Gold Sprint over 1,100m. Last year, he finished second in the Grade Three Champagne Stakes over 1,600m on the turf before his gallant second-place finish in the 2021 Stewards Cup over 1,200m.
Views on the highest-rated horse in training in 2022
General JN, the Jamaican-bred colt out of the dam Sea Treaty, trained by John Leotaud, and named by owner Jerry Narace, has had his final salute past the post after a stellar 31-race career with winnings exceeding $600,000. Garnering international headlines such as “Jamaican-bred General JN takes Trini Guineas,” “General JN records easy victory,” and “General sizzles in Arima,” this formidable winner is ending his career as impressively as it began.
Jerry Narace (owner): “Having had a great racing career we now look forward to his progeny.
This morning he went to Poon Tips farm and should be off to Barbados this month to serve as a stallion at Dr White’s Family Farm is at his Family Home where he has his own horses and equine operating facility.
“In the final analysis, I thank God for the opportunity to own such an incredible horse who was so loved by the public that he almost always went to post as the favorite and even in his last race he was the favorite with even odds. I also wish to thank our team of handlers, trainers and jockeys for their invaluable contributions. Stellar earnings of $710K is indeed an indication of his honesty. Great run we now look forward to his next chapter as a stallion I can say without fear of contradiction, God willing his best days are yet ahead of him.”
Andrew Hussey (breeder): “I knew General JN was a smart horse from on the farm, long before he started racing because he took instruction well and was easy to train. Horses like to show trainers their skills and General JN loved to show off and perform his best every single chance he got. Not all horses are able to run at peak performance but General JN did!”
Dr. Jonathan white MRCVS (BVMS MVM CertES(Orth) MRCVS, Equine Surgeon and Lecturer in Equine Surgery, The University of The West Indies: “General JN caught my eye with his performances on the track as a two-year-old, winning his first two starts with consummate ease by a combined 16 lengths. He performed similarly impressively as a three-year-old winning the Guineas and Midsummer Classic easily by a combined 17 lengths.
“I had the privilege of operating on him for a fragment in a fetlock joint after his 2nd place in the Derby which was likely affecting his performance. He was a very intelligent horse whilst at the hospital with us undergoing treatment. I had the pleasure of watching him return to the track as a four-year-old (after surgery) and win four straight races on the dirt including the Presidents Cup and the Diamond Stakes and followed by further wins on the turf as an older horse including the Sian’s Gold Sprint.”
Rico Hernandez (jockey): “General JN is a spectacular horse and a true champion to everyone. We had an absolutely memorable moment together...I’ve won four races with him and they were special to me. May he be an idol to others and wish him the best in his future career. Also, I would like to thank Mr Jerry Narace for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a true champion!”
Ricky Jadoo (jockey): “It was such an honour riding General JN in last year Sian’s Gold Sprint which we won he will be remembered as a magnificent racehorse with an impressive career to his fans and everyone associated with him and I guarantee he will do just fine as a stud.”
Glenn Mendez (trainer): “General JN is a very lively horse to be around. A tough guy kind of character to be around physically, very confident. When he gets to the race track it’s all business and he always tries his best. His heart is always there and he’s a fighter. I always believed in his career. He always performed at his best. He was versatile, performing from sprint distances to staying distances on both turf and dirt. Speed and stamina, he had it all. One of the best. General JN has raced hard and would be an asset to anyone who uses him as a stallion. He will produce some very lovely but tough runners.”
John O’Brien (trainer): “He was a very good horse, well conformed and a major advantage is that he is good on both surfaces. He was a bit unfortunate in that going into the final leg of the Triple Crown, we found a chip in one of his ankles which interrupted his preparation for the Trinidad Derby and thus he was second in the Derby failing in his attempt to win the Triple Crown.”