By Peter Wharton
Im Stately, the greatest stakes-winning two-year-old trotter ever raced in this country, has been retired and will stand his first season at the Loddon Valley Stud, Lockwood, near Bendigo, of John and Kay Campbell.
The brilliant, young trotter, who was on the verge of greatness before injury curtailed his career, will be remembered for his flawless gait, explosive speed and staying prowess.
Im Stately raced only 28 months and in that time captured the imagination of trotting followers throughout Australia, finishing out of the money only once in 20 starts.
As a two-year-old the colt had eleven starts for eight wins and three seconds for $182,915, surpassing the previous record set by Blitzthemcalder ($164,060) in the 2011/12 season.
Undoubtedly the highlight of his freshman campaign was his end-to-end triumph in the $158,000 Breeders Crown, in which he defeated star En Zedders One Over Da Moon and Daenerys Targaryen and local champion Claudys Princess. His other major successes at two were the $50,000 Vicbred Final and the $30,000 Tatlow, scoring by margins of 31 and 18.4 metres respectively.
In recognition of his stellar season Im Stately was the overwhelming choice as Australian 2YO Trotter of the Year in 2013. He even had his own Facebook page!
After missing his entire three-year-old year due to a tendon injury Im Stately returned to the fray at four, winning a further five races with three placings from nine outings.
Im Stately took his record of 2:01.5, winning the $60,000 Vicbred 4YO Final (2240 metres) after being required to overcome a difficult barrier draw and a torrid passage. He also captured the time-honoured Central Victorian Championship Final at Charlton, cutting the last three quarters in 29.9, 29.6 and 28.7.
In all, he won six races at Group and Listed level including three Group 1’s and stakemoney and bonuses totally more than $250,000.
David Jack, who trained and drove him throughout his career, said: “He had a beautiful gait and high speed. Being by Majestic Son from a Sundon mare, I think he’s got a lot going for him.”
On the score of blood Im Stately lacks nothing. By the world champion Majestic Son, and one of his second crop, he is out of the race-winning Shadows (Tr 2:06.8), by Sundon from the Jeremy Lobell mare Follome, who took a record of 2:03 as a three-year-old.
Follome won 21 races and $96,912 including the Fritz Futurity and Kilmore Trotters Cup and was placed in the Victoria and NSW Derbies and was a top racemare in her own right. She figures as the grand-dam of the smart Sundons Promise Tr 1:57.5 ($62,592), winner of the Glenferrie Sweetheart and Breeders Crown Consolation, and Zharis Idol (Tr 2:03.1), runner-up in the Bathurst Coronet.
Further back in Im Stately’s pedigree are the smart trotters Miracle Maid and Rattling Billy, both winners of the SA Hambletonian. He carries the blood of Majestic Son, the leading sire of young trotters in Australia and New Zealand; Angus Hall, one of America’s greatest trotting sires, and Sundon, champion trotting stallion in NZ and Australia for the last decade.
Im Stately’s fee will be $1,100 including GST with discounts for Victorian Square Trotters Association and Harness Breeders Vic members.
For further information contact John Campbell on (03) 5435 4144 or 0437 077 887.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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