I’m Imogen might have been a tiny horse and she might have had a superficial scar on her left knee but that didn’t stop Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson from purchasing her at a classic sale a few years back.
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“She was little but well built,” Thompson recalled on Tuesday.
“Had this superficial scar on her knee, though.”
Thompson – and owner Dubbo’s Dr Bob Slack-Smith – have reaped the rewards since with the little sprinting star winning her fifth race on Tuesday at Tamworth when successful in the $20,000 JT Fossey Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m).
A front-running effort saw the mare take out the win by over one and a half lengths.
I’m Imogen worked hard early on with Alena Skerritt on board to take the lead from Navajo Chief just after the 200-metre mark of the race.
The four-year-old then had a kick down the straight to get clear of the Clint Lundholm-trained favourite Joey’s Destiny.
The deficit couldn’t be erased.
I’m Imogen scored in front of Joey’s Destiny while Graham Watts’ Tully Ho was back in third almost three lengths off the winner.
While I’m Imogen initially cost $30,000, the win on Tuesday took her to more than $102,000 in prizemoney and possibly to a midweek race in Sydney again.
At the time of the purchase, Dr Slack-Smith had Thompson look at some other yearlings but the trainer didn’t like them and thought I’m Imogen was much a better proposition.
“I told him I’d found this nice little filly with a big scar on her knee,” Thompson said.
“He said buy her if I like her.”
So he did.
She’s run some great races for Thompson, too.
Those good runs include a solid second to Isaurian at Warwick Farm.
Skerritt was in the saddle at Warwick Farm and has been riding I’m Imogen throughout.
The hoop has nothing but admiration for the daughter of I Am Invincible, who has now won five of her 18 starts.
“She’s such a good little horse, so much speed and such a smart little mare,” she said.
“I almost won on her in town, too. The only thing that beat us was a real good horse.”
I’m Imogen was the only horse to race on the day for Thompson to give the trainer one from one at Tamworth.
Likewise, it was Skerritt’s only ride for the day as well.
Thompson had I’m Imogen nominated at Mudgee this weekend but won’t go now.
An option for the mare could be a 1000-metre open sprint at Dubbo or she could potentially go back to the midweeks.