Feature Race | Auction | Breeding | General | Hall of Fame | Harness | Interviews | Mixed Breed | New Players | Racing | Site Updates | Steeplechasing | Steward's Cup | Triple Crown
Imposing Defeats Unlimited in Steward's Cup Turf
Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 2 weeks agoThe famed broodmares both standing behind the pearly gates aren’t really keeping score but one of them whinnied anyway when it was her pride and joy who prevailed in the $3 million Grade I Steward’s Cup Turf.
That would be the grey mare Altibiir whose final son Imposing took the lead in the stretch and prevailed by a ¼ length over fast finishing Unlimited who was produced by the great mare Kismet. Neither mare was killed while foaling these particular offspring, as Altibiir’s demise came from foaling a daughter of Vernacular and Kismet through the multi-talented Magician so they have progeny yet to complete their racing careers. Still they both basked in the successes of their sons who clashed on the final day of racing of the year in the Steward’s Cup.
Imposing is a handsome son of the multi-championed Everest (out of the very successful mare Banner) who remains the popular stud. Another successful son of his, Acme skipped the Turf but nosed out Kismet’s final son Believe in the Sydney Trophy. Sean Furney picked up Imposing for $6 million as a two year old in training and put him to work. After a trio of nice speedy workouts, Imposing took to the racetrack to begin his career, the expectation of his royal pedigree on his withers. He won his first two races before finishing eighth in the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Turf at only a mile. Boldness who won it and Lanarkshire who finished behind him both made their marks at the mile distance with the latter winning the Turf Mile a couple years ago.
At three, he sparkled winning four straight races when he discovered the lucrative Australian racing circuit winning the Australian, Brisbane and Melbourne Derbies before his sensational victory against older horses in the renowned Cox Trophy. Fact Not Fiction and Top Honor had his measure in the very tough Melbourne Trophy but he finished third to finish out his sophomore campaign and winning the champion three year old male title in the South Pacific.
At four, he traveled to the popular spot, Desert Oasis Park and then to London winning four straight stakes including the Desert Duty Free and the King George Stakes where he defeated Top Honor by a head. That horse turned the tables in a fiercely fought Arc De Triomphe Stakes before both of them headed off to Seattle Downs to run in the Turf.
Unlimited by the very hot Stealth Ninja also did his dam, Kismet proud winning 10 out of 18 starts going into the Turf. He won three stakes including the Toronto International and the Desert Gold Stakes. The $9.1million purchase by Eric Nalbone looked very fit and ready to run his best race in his last race. No slouch either was Top Honor, whose dam Pennant had been selected champion female turf horse and she had produced the likes of Streamer, Pentagon and Emblem. Top Honor (by Gonzalo) had placed second in the Desert Turf Classic behind Heroes but won the Arc De Triomphe in nice fashion. European Champion Three Year Old Male, the very mortal Edward Cullen who never the less is greeted by mobs of screaming fans wherever he goes is out of the family of Unite As One (his broodmare’s dam) who produced Sword Bearer, Cliff Diver and Scream in the Wind. Heroes won three straight stakes races including the Desert Turf Classic.
Pensioned mare, Shentaan was particularly pleased at the field as she’s the dam of both Altibiir and Unite As One and got that wild look in her eyes again while watching the horses go to the post of the Turf from her comfortable digs.
Imposing’s reliable jockey, Damian Fox rode his mount into the starting gate with the rest and when the gates opened, Edward Cullen flew to the lead like a bat out of some place while Rodolphus hung in with him and Imposing and Unlimited both remained in reach of Shoes who chased the leaders. In the backstretch, Edward Cullen widened his lead while his fans swooned and Rodolphus and Shoes tried to kick it in with him. Unperturbed were Imposing and Limited who remained at fourth and fifth place respectfully realizing that many turf routes wind up with furious sprints at the finish. In the far turn, Edward Cullen found his lead diminished by Shoes with Moya’s half brother Baracuda nudging up to the third spot with Imposing and Unlimited still waiting to unleash their best efforts in the lane.
And when the horses finally reached it after the lengthy exercise preceding it, Imposing kicked it so quickly into gear, several horses were stunned but Unlimited chased after him and they raced in tandem until Imposing brought it greater at the finish line. Unlimited still finished a very stalwart second by 2 ¼ lengths over Top Honor who finished third.
By winning, Imposing navigated the 1 ½ miles in 2:26 flat and he trotted back to the winner’s circle quite proud as his dam no doubt did a bit of a victory dance in the meadows where all stalwart broodmares wind up after dying. He jetted off to that famed venue Pegasus Feathers International where all top horses go when they’re thinking about running in the series of hot races at Desert Oasis Park earlier in the season. Will he be back to take on all challengers in the Desert Turf Classic. Oh anticipation is already building strongly for that race!