I’m Imposing will be dropping back to 1600 metres for the 2015 Lord Mayor’s Cup, but trainer Chris Waller is confident that the veteran gelding has the class to handle the drop-back in trip.

I’m Imposing is the horse to beat in the 2015 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Doomben this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

I’m Imposing started his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a flat effort in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) from Rosehill Gardens on March 21 and he was withdrawn from the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) before he returned to his best form with a third place finish in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.

There was some support for I’m Imposing in the lead-up to the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane on May 9 and he was no match for Pornichet, but he was still able to hit the line strongly to finish third.

Waller admits that the drop back in trip from 2000 metres to a mile can be difficult for some horses, but he believes that there is no doubt I’m Imposing is the class horse in the Lord Mayor’s Cup field.

“It was a good run and he was Group 1 placed last start, Waller said.

“He loves this distance and it is not easy coming back from 2000 to 1600 metres, but his class is going to take him a long way against these horses and under weight-for-age conditions he is very well suited.”

I’m Imposing will be joined in the Lord Mayor’s Cup field by stablemate Strawberry Boy and the John Singleton-owned galloper is chasing his first race win this preparation.

Strawberry Boy returned to racing with a solid fifth at Royal Randwick on April 18 and he led in the early stages of the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) last Friday, but he was unable to maintain a strong early tempo and he tired late to finish sixth.

Waller expects Strawberry Boy to take up the running in the early stages of the Lord Mayor’s Cup, but he is hopeful that jockey Zac Purton will be able to ride him in a slightly more conservative manner than his father in law did in the Scone Cup.

“He needs to be rolling like Jimmy rode him last start, but maybe not quite as aggressive,” Purton said.

“He will lead, dictate and then roll is probably a bit better for him.

“The trip to Scone and then back up to Brisbane is not easy, but this is the right race for him.”

I’m Imposing is currently available at 2015 Lord Mayor’s Cup odds of $3.80 with Ladbrokes and is a clear favourite from Hopfgarten ($5), Strawberry Boy ($6), Estonian Princess ($7.50) and Lucky Lago ($8).