Ima Boxa sets new track record in TAB Regional Championships Final

Leading trainer Jason Grimson looks to have unearthed another rising star in Ima Boxa (Shoobees Place) after he toyed with his rivals to score a soft win in the Listed $75,000 Metropolitan TAB Regional Championships Final at the Penrith Paceway on Friday evening.

Drawn on the second line, it didn’t take long for driver Cameron Hart to send Ima Boxa around the field to eventually race outside the leader With Distinction.

Hart was quite content to sit outside the leader and even with just a lap left to travel it looked to be coasting when With Distinction was being driven along to hold the lead. And in just a few bounds Ima Boxer simply put a space between himself and his rivals to open up a clear lead with a slick 27.9 seconds for the third quarter.

IMA BOXA 20 MAR REPLAY

Tiger Prince who had enjoyed the one out and one back trail set out in pursuit but Ima Boxa cruised away to record an impressive twenty metre win over Tiger Prince with One For The Rodi running into third place. His run for the 2125 metres was 1.53.5 which was a new track record breaking the previous time of 1.54.8 set by Backintown in October 2020.

Ima Boxa was bred by Ross Angove and is raced by Wingate Stud at Wagga. Jake Stockton of Wingate prepared Ima Boxa in his early career before he was transferred to Grimson’s stables in December last year.

The gelding has now had eight starts for seven wins and a close second placing. He is out of the Four Starzz Shark mare Bigchoice. She also left Mystical Jazz now retired who won six races going 1.56.6. Her dam Laurens Choice left Settledin also a winner of six races with a fastest time of 1.57.3.

Given his polished performance last night, Ima Boxa looks set to work through the metropolitan classes.

Driver Cameron Hart raised the prospect that Ima Boxa could be set for the Group 1 Tabtouch $1.25 million Nullabor at Gloucester Park on Friday 17 April.

He’s a pretty honest animal this fellow. I’ve got a huge opinion of him. If he can do the things we think he can we were hoping he could do that tonight. (This race) has been on the radar for a long time it what was we were aiming at this prep for him and it was just the perfect race for him at the right time. Just happy to get the job done for Jason and Jake (Stockton).

He was overtravelling going that well. And I sort of knew I could put the leader away whenever I sort of pleased to the way he was travelling. He was just super impressive the whole last lap.

I wouldn’t put a slot for the Nullabor in a month’s time out of the picture. He’s only lightly raced but he’s such a great racehorse. And even in his first prep he came straight from being broken in to winning three from three with Jake so they knew they had something special.

For complete Penrith race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink