Her descendants include one of the most famous names in thoroughbred racing but trainer Brett Baker says it is the barrier draw rather than her bloodlines that will count most for General Secretary at Doomben.General Secretary, who carries a distant pedigree link to United States thoroughbred hero Seabiscuit, will be chasing successive wins when she lines up in Saturday's Hamish and Andy Open Handicap (1350m).Her maternal page reveals her seventh dam Swing On is the mother of Seabiscuit, a rags-

Her descendants include one of the most famous names in thoroughbred racing but trainer Brett Baker says it is the barrier draw rather than her bloodlines that will count most for General Secretary at Doomben.

General Secretary, who carries a distant pedigree link to United States thoroughbred hero Seabiscuit, will be chasing successive wins when she lines up in Saturday's Hamish and Andy Open Handicap (1350m).

Her maternal page reveals her seventh dam Swing On is the mother of Seabiscuit, a rags-to-riches horse of the late 1930s whose story transcends racing.

"It's a bit of trivia having Seabiscuit in her pedigree but overall she's pretty well bred," Baker said.

"Her (close-up) pedigree is the main reason why I bought her because I was thinking more about her as a broodmare than a racehorse.

"Her dam (Secretaire) was placed in the Sires' Produce in Adelaide."

Baker paid $5000 for General Secretary at a Melbourne sale.

Unraced for leading trainer David Hayes, the five-year-old has returned more than $133,000 in stakes for Baker and she is a clear-cut favourite to boost her tally on Saturday after drawing the rails alley.

"She seems to draw well every time except when I put her in a stakes race," Baker said.

"Barrier one is a big plus on Saturday. She is a very easy horse to ride ... you can put her anywhere you want to in a field."

General Secretary steps into open company after ploughing through the Eagle Farm mud to post a March 5 win.

She is the opening $2.35 favourite to make a winning transition despite racing beyond 1200m for the first time.

"Everyone who has ever ridden her has said I'll win a stakes race with her and she'll have no trouble getting seven furlongs (1400m)," Baker said.

Baker also nominated General Secretary for the Group Three Birthday Card Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday before deciding on easier pickings closer to home.

"I can usually judge my chances (of winning) by the standard of jockeys who ring up for the ride," he said.

"But I hope to bring her to Sydney at some time. It's a goal of mine. I've never had a runner in Sydney."

Doomben was rated in the dead range on Thursday with Baker declaring General Secretary just as effective on top of the ground.

"A lot of people have knocked her and said she is just a wet tracker but they're wrong," he said.

"She bruises up a bit on firmer tracks but she puts in just as hard although it takes her a bit longer to recover."