Significant expectations surrounded I’mateez from his very first race.

As the younger sibling of the celebrated 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz, I’mateez has to date recorded only two victories from seven starts, with three minor placings.

Alex Rae, based at Cranbourne, has I’mateez primed to contest the Rod Johnston Handicap (1100m) at Flemington this Saturday, where he will be seeking his maiden city success.

Imperatriz herself achieved Group 1 glory down the Flemington straight, triumphing in the Champions Sprint (1200m) and the Lightning Stakes, and also secured a second place in the Newmarket Handicap.

Rae is optimistic that running on a straight track will benefit I’mateez, who has been sidetracked by minor physical issues throughout his seven-race tenure.

After an initial win at Geelong in April, Rae entered I’mateez into the Warrnambool May Carnival, but the outing ended in disappointment.

“He’s got a few soundness issues which have pulled him up,” Rae said.

“Immediately after the race we thought the 1200 (metres) saw him out, but on reflection he wasn’t himself and it took us a good couple of weeks to get him over the run, physically.”

“He felt the ground. Nothing in particular, but he just jarred up badly which I know is ironic on rain-affected ground.”

“His knees, joints, he’s just not that well put together, but with maturity, he’s improving.”

“We thought the rain-affected ground was going to be the key with him, then we ran him on rain-affected ground, on a heavy deck, and he pulled up the same.”

“Originally, we wanted to avoid running him on hard track. I ran him first-up at Sale last campaign and he could barely walk for a week.”

“He’s got his issues, but we’ve ironed them out at the moment.”

Rae took I’mateez to Sale last week for an 800m jump-out, which the gelding won.

He mentioned that I’mateez has recovered well from the hit-out, and it will provide the stable with an indication of the gelding’s current form.

“The straight is going to keep him nice and balanced, and he seems to be going really well,” Rae said.

“We took him down to Sale last week for a bit of a blowout and he’s ready to run, so at least we’ll see where he fits in the mix and whether he’s up to metropolitan standard at this time of the year.”

“He was a $200,000 yearling and probably a three-quarter-of-a-million-dollar horse if he didn’t have his ailments.”

“We’ve had to manage him, and the owners have been patient, but the talent is there.”

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