Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented six-year-old Ima Fivestar General has won over a variety of distances from 1730m to 2631m, but there is little doubt that he shines over sprint trips and will be ideally suited on his return to racing after a spell when he contests the Countryman Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trainer-reinsman Robbie Williams is looking forward to a successful campaign with the New Zealand-bred gelding who will start from barrier five on Friday night.
Ima Fivestar General has won twice over 1980m, once over 1780m and his four starts over 1730m have produced two wins and two seconds.
His latest runs over 1730m were at Gloucester Park in June this year when he was a $30.40 outsider from the outside barrier in the field of eight and finished powerfully from seventh at the bell to win from the pacemaker Whos The Dad, rating 1.54.9, and when he trailed the pacemaker Magnificent Storm and finished second to the star pacer who rated 1.52.5 in the field of four runners.
“He loves the mile,” said Williams. “He has had enough work and will go into this week’s race nice and fresh. Watts Up Sunshine looks the leader, with Classic Choice likely to be in the breeze, so it should work out fine for us, being able to slot in and have a nice soft trip.
“He is capable of winning. In my opinion, he and Valentines Brook are the best two horses in the race, with Ima Fivestar General’s fitness being the only query. I definitely give him a chance, and I do know that after two to three runs he will be a lot sharper.
“There is nothing too serious planned for him, but he has the ability, and we will just press on and see where he gets to.”
Watts Up Sunshine, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for trainer Michael Young, is ideally drawn at barrier one, and he is race hardened, as well as being a noted frontrunner with an excellent record in sprint events, having won six times over 1609m, once over 1720m, and twice each over 1730m and 1660m.
It is significant that Watts Up Sunshine has set the pace in 16 of his 20 wins.
Valentines Brook, trained by Jocelyn Young and to be driven by Kyle Symington, has been racing competitively in stronger fields and will have many admirers, even from his awkward draw at barrier eight.