I’m Imposing To Villiers Stakes Following Festival Stakes Win

I’m Imposing is set to contest the 2014 Villiers Stakes at Royal Randwick on December 13 after he recorded a narrow win in the Listed Festival Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

I'm Imposing swooped home late to win the 2014 Festival Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

I’m Imposing swooped home late to win the 2014 Festival Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

I’m Imposing was settled towards the tail of the field in the early stages of the Festival Stakes by jockey Tye Angland and tracked into the race nicely on the back of Estonian Princess heading into the straight.

Strawberry Boy kicked away at the top of the straight before Estonian Princess and Generalife loomed on the outside, but I’m Imposing was able to storm home and steal victory from Estonian Princess in the shadows of the post.

Trainer Chris Waller elected to train I’m Imposing as a miler for his spring preparation after running the Danehill Dancer gelding in races like the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) this time last year and he was thrilled that his decision to change things up with the veteran gelding had paid dividends.

You never stop learning with horses and if you don’t close yourself off from change, they can change,” Waller told the media after the race.

“He is better trained like he is now on the fresh side and it means he doesn’t have to do as much work and has that finish at the end.”

Angland said that he was always confident in the run that I’m Imposing would be able to figure in the finish and he was thrilled with the turn-of-foot that the eight-year-old showed in the final stages of the race.

The leading Sydney hoop has not recorded two race wins and two placings from his five rides on I’m Imposing and he believes that the gelding is capable of making it back-to-back wins in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) in just under a fortnight.

“He takes a couple of strides to get going, but he has a big burst and he always seemed like he was going to get there,” Angland said.

“The speed was good, which suited him and he still had that turn of foot.

“The bigger track and a mile will be even better for him and it should be run similar.”

Estonian Princess looked like she had the race won at the 50 metre mark and trainer Scott Aspery confirmed that she will have the chance to turn-the-tables on I’m Imposing in the Villiers Stakes, while Queensland-based Sir Moments will also press on to the Group 2 event after he finished strongly in the Festival Stakes.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.