Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Henley Brook trainer-reinsman Robbie Williams produced a magnificent and inspired performance in the sulky to land $30.40 outsider Ima Fivestar General a thrilling last-stride winner in the $22,000 Steelos Open Every Race Meeting Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Ima Fivestar General began from the outside barrier in the field of eight and Williams was content to restrain the New Zealand-bred six-year-old and drop him back to last while the $1.30 favourite and polemarker Whos The Dad withstood a strong early challenge for the lead from $8.50 chance Watts Up Sunshine, who began speedily from the No. 6 barrier.
Ima Fivestar General was still last 350m from home when Williams angled him three wide to improve his position. But instead of persisting with the three-wide burst Williams quickly and instinctively switched the gelding to the pegs where he remained hemmed in until Williams eased him out 110m from the post and nudged Watts Up Sunshine.
Ima Fivestar General then sprinted strongly to get up in the final stride to beat Whos The Dad by a head, rating 1.54.9. Many of the gelding’s 18 part-owners leapt with joy, particularly one of them who had invested heavily on the gelding.
Ima Fivestar General, a winner at three of his 15 starts in New Zealand, has performed wonderfully well for the 35-year-old Williams, with his 23 starts in WA producing eight wins and eight placings. He is a smart sprinter, having raced over 1730m three times for two wins and a second placing. He also won the 1780m Village Kid Sprint at Northam in February 2022.
Williams is enjoying a purple patch, with his past eight starters producing four wins — two each for Ima Fivestar General and Brickies Dream.