| Star New Zealand based mare Imperatriz has kicked off 2023 in the best possible way with a brilliant win in today’s Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa. |
| One of the finest gallopers in her country, Imperatriz produced a powerful finishing burst in the home straight to reel in the leader Babylon Berlin. The win was the 10th in just 15 starts for the daughter of I Am Invincible – importantly her third at Group One level. Prepared at Matamata by trainer Mark Walker, Imperatriz was the highlight on a massive day for the powerful Te Akau Racing operation headed by David Ellis. “I think having her back on top of the ground today was key, and I’m very proud to see the mare come back like this,” Walker said. “We’ve got a great team around us at Te Akau, including three or four who could be great trainers in their own right – and, in time, they will be. It’s all come together today, and it’s a very satisfying result.” “The other big part of it is Opie Bosson. There’s no jockey quite like him in New Zealand when it comes to big races, and he’s done it again today.” “And when you’ve got Dave buying them it makes it easier. He heads to the Gold Coast next week and I’m looking forward to see what he buys,” Walker added. Imperatriz was a $360,000 purchase for Ellis from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “This result is quite incredible,” Ellis said. “To win a Group One on the track that (part owner) John Elstob is President of, with a horse that he has a 25 per cent share in – it doesn’t get any better than that. John is an absolutely fantastic person, and he and his partner Denise own a number of horses with us.” Bred by Raffles Dancers, Imperatriz is a four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible and is from the group performed Shamardal mare Berimbau. A half sister to Tony Gollan’s stakes winner Vinco, Berimbau is also the dam of the Chris Waller trained Sydney winner Cabaca. Meanwhile, team Te Akau made it a big race double with Gold Coast purchases when Campionessa scored a soft win in the Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m). Again with Opie Bosson in the saddle, Campionessa unleashed a big sprint in the straight and at the post the Contributor mare was an easy winner. Ellis went to $60,000 to secure Campionessa at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale from the draft of Westbury Stud, who offered her on behalf of breeder Mapperley Stud. “Campionessa freshened up really nicely after Riccarton,” Walker said. “Our racing manager, Reece Trumper, suggested this race as a possible target. I asked him if it might be a little bit too rich for her at this stage of her career, but he really wanted to have a crack at it. This result is a real credit to him.” “It was a very good performance today, and we might have to set our sights a bit higher after this,” Walker added. Winner: Imperatriz Breeding: I Am Invincible-Berimbau (Shamardal) Breeder: Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd Race: Waikato RC Railway Stakes G1 (1200m) Sold for: $360,000 Sale: 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent) Buyer: David Ellis Earnings: NZ$780,825 Owner(s): Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) Trainer: Mark Walker (Matamata) PIC – Kirstin Ledington. |
