Imposant’s racing career is drawing to a close but trainer Kris Lees believes there is another win in the mare at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Lees said Imposant is “going well” ahead of what could be her final race start in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m).
“It seems like Imposant has been up forever but she handles the ground (heavy 10 rating on Friday),” Lees said.
“Her work this week has been good, she’s going well and this is a winnable race.
“She will be going to stud in the spring so this could be her last run but I think we have found the right race for her.”
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are offering generous odds of $23 about Imposant in latest betting, particularly as the rising six-year-old mare did run a good second behind stablemate Lord Of Biscay in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final over the Randwick 1400m course earlier this campaign.
Lees has three runners at the Randwick meeting including consistent sprinter Power Of The Brave in the Kieran Moore Handicap (1000m).
Power Of The Brave has topweight of 62.5kg but Lees has booked apprentice Shannen Llewellyn to take advantage of her 3kg claim.
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have Power Of The Brave at $8 for his return after he closed out a nine-race campaign back in March with successive seconds at Eagle Farm and Gold Coast. The striking chestnut won three races when last in work including a win over the Randwick 1000m course late last year.
“He’s a really genuine, on-speed sprinter,” Lees said of Power Of The Brave, winner of seven races (and 10 minor placings) from 31 starts, earning more than $360,000 prizemoney.
“He’s come back in good order after his spell and this is the right time of year to have him up and racing. He’s ready to go on Saturday.”
Lees also expects emerging two-year-old Rumdabar ($3.90 favourite) to prove hard to beat in the Elite Sand And Soil Handicap (1400m).
Rumdabar ran last of 11 on debut behind Why So Hard at Randwick last month but bounced back with a very impressive win at Newcastle over 1300m on a heavy track last start.
“Rumdabar had ‘big’ excuses at his first start when he was trapped four-wide throughout,” lees said.”But he was very good at Newcastle and he’s a young horse with ability. At this time of year, I don’t think the transition from provincial to city class is that wide and he should be hard to beat again.”
