Racing: Imagine That - it all comes down to bad manners

Mark Purdon

Imagine That is on trial for the rest of her career today.

The underrated mare might be the best pacer in today's $50,000 Kaikoura Cup, a win in which was one of the few highlights during her rollercoaster last season.

The problem for Imagine That is not her ability, but her standing start manners, or lack thereof.

Last Monday she lost 50m with an early gallop before producing a staggering recovery for eighth in the national record-setting Flying Stakes.

The two sides of that performance left trainer-driver Mark Purdon shaking his head.

"I knew she was working well but that was a massive run when you consider the times," said Purdon.

"But there is no reason for her to keep galloping. It is all in her head."

Purdon has taken a fingers-crossed approach to today's 2400m event.

"I gave her a lot of standing start practice before Ashburton and it had the opposite effect, so this week I have done none.

"It is all in her head, which is why I haven't put her on the unruly. She will step away if she wants to, that is about it."

While many of her rivals today are using the race to try to guarantee them a New Zealand Cup start, for Imagine That the ramifications of her performance could be more far-reaching.

"If she doesn't handle the start then we are going to have to think about her future," said Purdon.

"There is no point lining her up all the time just to see her blow her chances at the start.

"So if she misses away again we may ditch the New Zealand Cup and start looking at just mobile racing, either here or in Australia."

While there are plenty of rich mobile races around, Imagine That would miss the races that suit her best.

That would cut out of play the New Zealand, Franklin, Auckland, Easter and Hunter Cups, all races ideal for a pacer with her stamina reserves. Shame about the manners.

Purdon supplies the fixed odds favourite for today's race in Mighty Cullen and the enigmatic Likmesiah, but admits Imagine That is the best of the trio.

"If she steps away she is my best chance, clearly over Mighty Cullen."

Mighty Cullen is the safer option though, with his usually foolproof manners giving him the chance to race close to the pace.

That is a huge asset on the flat Kaikoura track. Although it is one of the prettiest in world harness racing, it is a nightmare to make ground on.

If Mighty Cullen can step to the lead, as he did when winning an easier race at Ashburton last Monday, it is hard to see him not finishing in the top three, which may earn him a New Zealand Cup start.

A solid pace could aid northern pacer Napoleon as he tries to sneak into the New Zealand Cup field. He has had a luckless season, but races best when he doesn't have to work too hard early and can have one sprint at the leaders.

A good standing start horse, he gets that chance today and represents each-way value.

Off the other front-line horses, Tribute will be a big improver on his last-start fifth, while the backmarkers, outside Imagine That, all face the same dilemma.

It's Ella, Waipawa Lad and London Legend could all win with peak efforts, but they are best suited when driven with a sit, hardly ideal in a big field on this track.

Coastal classic

* The $50,000 Kaikoura Cup is the highlight of today's annual meeting.

* It is the last chance for several pacers to qualify for the New Zealand Cup.

* Imagine That won the race last season but has been dogged by bad standing start manners since.

* Her trainer, Mark Purdon, rates her the best of his three chances in today's race.