Imperial Ace has always had the talent to win races - but now the brain might be joining in on the act.
The 4yr-old pacer completed his gradual rise up the podium with a win at Forbury Park last night in the rain, realising some of the potential he has shown from a young age.
The son of Bettor's Delight was making all the right moves at the Roxburgh stables of Geoff and Jude Knight until he turned 3.
''When he was a yearling he broke in really nice and in his 2yr-old preparation, he was really good,'' Geoff Knight said.
''But as a 3yr-old he got silly - he ran out the gate and spun around. It was all in his head.''
Knight paid credit to Imperial Ace's breeder Dr Onn Chin and his wife, Raewyn, who own the gelding with their son, Michael.
''As time went on, Onny [Chin] and Raewyn were really patient. We turned him out and brought him back as a 4yr-old. He was a different horse when he came back in.''
The wide draw was not a major concern for Knight as Imperial Ace is still learning the game, which became obvious when he hit the front with a lap to go.
''Being in front really wasn't his go. He got a bit lost out there because we don't even work him in front at home.
''We'll just tick him through the winter and hopefully aim for a junior drivers' race next.''
His driver, Matthew Williamson, agreed there was more than a hint of greenness about the first foal of Imperial Kiwi.
''He came out and zipped around [to the front] pretty quick, but when he got there he knocked off,'' Williamson said.
''He's pretty lazy but he got the job done.''
Imperial Ace's previous two starts had produced a third at Gore on April 26 and a second at Forbury Park on May 1.
The evening ended on a high for the Knights when they trained their first trifecta. Lionels Meddle, Cullen's Finest and Hi Gun filled the first three places in race 8.
