Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented six-year-old Ima Fivestar General ended a 13-month drought and a losing sequence of ten when he bounced back to his best form with a stylish victory in the Steelos Restaurant Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It was an overdue success, coming after five second placings from eight starts in his current preparation — which followed nine months off the scene while he was recovering from a minor leg injury.
Ima Fivestar General, trained and driven by Robbie Williams, was the $7.50 second fancy from the inside of the back line, with the polemarker Kimble hot favourite at $1.30.
Williams was anticipating a perfect trail behind Kimble, but his plans failed to eventuate when $31 chance Gran Chico began like a shot from barrier four and sped straight to the front, leaving Ima Fivestar General locked up, three back on the pegs, with Withoutthetuh ($18) in the breeze after an unsuccessful bid for the early lead.
Williams patiently bided his time and eased Ima Fivestar General into the clear just after passing the 400m mark. Ima Fivestar General sprinted strongly, got to the front in the final 20m and won by 2m from $12 chance Onesmartfella, with final quarters of 27.7sec. and 28.3sec.
“I knew a win wasn’t far away,” said Williams. “He had that long spell, away from the races for nine months, and if a few things had gone his way in this preparation, he could have easily had two or three wins.
“Tonight, was the first time we have been able to drive him quietly, with the barrier allowing us to do that. Once Kimble was crossed, I admit I was worried, and I thought we were in big strife. But things worked out, three back on the pegs at Gloucester Park is ideal.
“I was able to move (off the pegs) at the 500m, but I opted to stay there a little bit longer and pulled out at the 400m to follow Onesmartfella. Ima Fivestar General was really travelling and I was confident at the top of the straight.
“Ima Fivestar General is a good horse. He will slowly progress. When he is in full flight and in his best form, I think he is right up there with our good horses (in WA). He has a long way to get there but I think he has the ability to do it.”
Ima Fivestar General is certainly bred to be a good winner. He is by Art Major and is the fifth foal out of the Sokys Atom mare Valiant Heart, who earned $633,920 from four wins in New Zealand, ten in Victoria and 19 in America, plus 51 placings, from a total of 190 starts.
Ima Fivestar General’s half-sister Bettors Heart earned $590,352 from 23 wins and 31 placings from 116 starts.
The lightly-raced Ima Fivestar General has had 33 starts for nine wins, 14 placings and stakes of $108,046.