Ocean Park 3YO bright staying prospect

Imezaaki showed staying was his forte with a quick and successful transition to middle distance racing at Hawkesbury ton Sunday afternoon.

The outcome of the son of Ocean Park’s first test at 2000 metres was even more meritorious as the Bjorn Baker-trained three-year-old accounted for older opposition.

He settled back off the pace before rider Rachel King angled him wide at the top of the straight and he thundered down the outside to win for the second time in five appearances.

“He’s been a bit slow to learn, but he’s improving all the time and we think he’ll be much better next time around,” stable representative Luke Hilton said.

“It was a good result and he was very strong late, so he’s a young horse with a good future.”

Imezaaki was co-bred by Waikato Stud and was offered by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale where he was purchased for A$220,000 by Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock.

His dam is the High Chaparral mare Kazemi, successful on three occasions, who is a half-sister to the farm’s G1 Challenge Stakes winner I Do.