| Superstar sprinter Imperatriz notched a magical tenth Group One success at Moonee Valley today when she scored a stirring win in the $1 million William Reid Stakes (1200m). |
| The outstanding daughter of I Am Invincible sat three deep throughout but her class shone through as she notched another win at the elite level. Her latest win followed an incredibly brave effort in the Newmarket Handicap when she was eyeballed for much of the race and seeing off all rivals before a late sweep from the lightly weighted Cylinder. This time around Cylinder was left to trail in the field, with Imperatriz able to hold out the roughie Johnny Rocker and I Am Me, Bella Nipotina and co. “It’s a great thrill especially after the Newmarket,” trainer Mark Walker said. “She really dug deep that day and to come back here and do it at her favourite track, it is a bit of relief, really.” “She got into a nice spot and we haven’t had much luck today on the fence so I knew we’d be out from the draw but it was great to come back from the Newmarket (and win), because that was a tough run and to show her fighting qualities today was brilliant.” “She’s extremely good and I’m thankful that she’s in the stable. Full credit to Ben and the team and all of our staff in New Zealand.” “I knew we wouldn’t be anywhere near the fence so I was quite happy about that. All of the horses ran pretty well today without a lot of luck,” Walker added. “It is good to get the main one.” Imperatriz’s regular rider Opie Bosson was aboard again today and he was delighted with her performance despite not everything going to plan. “I seemed to get in quite nicely behind Bella Nipotina and I thought she’d take me into the race but she didn’t,” Bosson said. “I had to make quite a long run, to be fair to her, down the side and when we turned in and she gets on that right leg going down the straight she is amazing.” “You can feel her picking up underneath you and once she balances up she is all class.” Bosson had plenty of confidence in his champion after her brave second in the Newmarket. “I got off her that day and said to Mark that she’ll be hard to beat at weight-for-age in any race from now on.” “I’m glad she came out there and won the way she did,” he summed up. Imperatriz, bred by Raffles Dancers, was sold for $360,000 to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was sold through the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds. With 19 wins, including 10 Group Ones, from just 26 starts, Imperatriz is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading sprinters. She has earned her ownership group, the Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis, a haul of over $6.8 million. Imperatriz was the second Magic Millions sold runner to win at Group One level today following the success of Veight in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy the son of Grunt proved too strong for a crack field. Veight was a $100,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale graduate bred and sold by the powerful Yulong operation. Winner: Imperatriz Breeding: I Am Invincible-Berimbau (Shamardal) Race: MVRC William Reid Stakes G1 (1200m) Sold for: $360,000 Sale: 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Earnings: $6,834,799 Breeder: Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent) Buyer: DC Ellis Owners: Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) Trainer: Mark Walker (Cranbourne) |
