Remarkable veteran Im Bobby starts the charge towards his first Inter Dominion series when he returns to racing at Melton on Saturday night.
The slow-maturing seven-year-old emerged from obscurity to roar through the classes last year and become one of Australia’s best trotters.
But, as many horses find, it’s much harder when you get to the top.
Im Bobby raced 23 times last year for 12 wins, six seconds and two thirds, but his eight starts so far this year have netted just one win and two placings.
Regular driver James Herbertson isn’t surprised and still has faith the gelding can be a force at the top level.
“He went through his classes so quickly and despite having raced so much, it’s a different ball game when you get in the very best races,” he said.
“He was trying to match it with a superstar like Keayang Zahara, who simply doesn’t have a chink in her armour … she can do anything, she’s almost unbeatable.”
Im Bobby is trained at Congupna by former TAB regional manager and 71-year-old hobbyist Eddie Tappe and scored his lone win of 2026 in his hometown Shepparton Trotters’ Cup on January 17.
“That showed what he was capable of, but he had a few hard runs after that and they knocked the stuffing out of him a bit,” Herbertson said.
“I was still happy enough with his runs towards the end of last campaign, but it’s good he’s had a break and I’m just hoping those hard runs haven’t knocked him around too much.”
Im Bobby is $2.40 favourite to use his customary gate speed to lead and win Saturday night;s Aldebaran Park Trotters’ free-for-all (2240m) at Melton.
“This looks like a good race for him. He’s the highest rated horse in the race, he’s drawn the best and he’s got the gate speed to use,” Herbertson said. “It’s a drop back in class, probably two or three runs, compared to taking on the likes of Keayang Zahara, Jilliby Ballerini and Arcee Phoenix at his best.
“Lovemetoo keeps improving and will be one of the hardest to beat and Remus Phoenix can be hot and cold, but his best would see him right in the finish, too.”
Herbertson said would welcome the chance to drive him in the Brisbane Inter Dominion, which runs from July 4-18 at Albion Park.
“He’s good enough to be competitive and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t make the final at his best,” he said.
“When you get into these top races, you can’t be one dimensional and he can do that. He’s not just a leader, he follows speed and can peel-off them and that’s important.”
Im Bobby, who has raced 106 times for 21 wins, is another example of Herbertson’s knack with veteran horses. He’s driven him 21 times for 10 wins.
Similarly, veteran pacer Bulletproof Boy has gone to a new level since trainer Scott Ewen engaged Herbertson.
“I don’t know what it is, but I seem to get along with them (older horses),” he said. “I just drive them to the way they feel, maybe they like that?” he said.
Herbertson, 26, has scored runaway wins the past two Australian Drivers’ Premierships and is locked in a battle with star Queenslander Nathan Dawson to complete a hat-trick.
Herbertson’s 123 wins have him eight behind Dawson with NSW superstar Cam Hart third on 97 wins.
