Imperial Man sustains big run to win

Imperial Man (Imperial Count) returned to winning form in spectacular fashion today at the Gore Harness Racing Club’s grass meeting.

Trained by John Ryan, the six year old’s last win was at this meeting a year ago.

“I purposely gave him a good break after March last year and he didn’t come into work until September. Man, he’s built up in the body and strengthened up,” Ryan said.

Imperial Man had broken in his last four starts, prior to today’s win.

“Last season he flicked into a pace in a lot of his races. He’s got heaps of ability and I think the problem is in his head. He’s so laid back around the place. He’s your best mate and all the other horses love him.”

In today’s Peters Genetics Trot over 1800 metres, driver Rory McIIwrick got Imperial Man away from wide on the track before the pair settled at the tail of the field.

At the 600 metres McIIwrick powered up his charge and in the space of 100 metres he was challenging for the lead. Turning in, McIIwrick had a tight grip on the reins as Imperial Man trotted to the top. At the post he had three quarters of a length to spare on Granny Rose.

IMPERIAL MAN REPLAY

“I wasn’t planning on going to the Wyndham meeting (at Cromwell on the grass next week), but I’ll have to rethink that now. Being on a grass track it’s a lot quieter for him. Not so much banging, shoving and pushing. The way Rory drove him today was right up his alley. He’s always had a good finishing burst.”

John’s father Bill was a good trainer of trotters and trained Josephus to win seven races in that gait. He was by Winabattle, a Light Brigade stallion that left both pacers and trotters.

“He used to pace too. Dad bred quite a few by Winabattle and they paced and trotted. They used to put the hopples on trotters and pace them when they weren’t trotting. They were that glad to get the hopples off on race day that they trotted. Old trainers like Derek Jones knew those old tricks. I’m not going to try that with this fella (laughter) unless push comes to shove. Back in the day they used to race them in both gaits on the same day. I haven’t taught this horse to pace but he’s a lovely pacer.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink