Our Little General sizing up Chariots of Fire start

Our Little General will use the $25,000 Eastern Challenge, 2210m, at Warragul on Thursday, January 11, as the first stepping stone towards what trainer Emma Stewart hopes is a start in the Chariots of Fire.

The reigning Victorian Derby champion has his first outing of the season in what shapes as a crack field.

Our Little General won a trial in Ballarat on Saturday, January 6, with the last 800m run in 57.8 and last 400m in 27.5 seconds.

The son of Mach Three has not raced since winning the Australasian Breeders Crown 3yo colts/geldings final at Melton on August 27 last year

The Eastern Challenge also features boom 4yo Beach Surge, which two starts ago set a new 1710m track record in Ballarat; Kenrick, a winner of his latest three starts; and in-form duo Hurricane Stride and Waimac Attack.

Our Little General’s next assignment after Warragul is likely to be the group 1 $100,000 4yo Bonanza, 1720m, at Melton on Saturday, January 27.

The winner of the Bonanza earns automatic selection for the $200,000 Chariots of Fire at Menangle on February 10.

Stewart is pursuing a second win in the group 1 4yo event, having scored with Guaranteed in 2014.