| Champion mare Imperatriz confirmed her status as the best sprinter in Australia with an effortless win in today’s Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. |
| The daughter of I Am Invincible made it three from three this preparation at the Valley with what turned out the easiest of on speed performances. The odds on favourite sprung from the barriers well and regular race rider Opie Bosson elected to allow her to hold a spot at the head of the field while her rivals were left to watch it all unfold. At the 600 metre mark her closest rival Jigsaw raised the white flag and other riders behind were busy riding their mounts while Bosson was nursing his champion into the straight. From there the result was never in doubt and Imperatriz, or Berri as she is affectionately known around the stable, was allowed to idle down as she sprinted to the post over three lengths ahead. “That’s the genius of Opie,” trainer Mark Walker when asked about the mare leading. “She jumped so well so why take away what she had done. I think she had it in the bag a long way from home, really.” “She got there and no one went up to her, I think Opie was probably of the opinion that someone would come around and then he’d take the trail but no one did.” “I didn’t think he was going too hard up on the speed. He probably thought he’d just stay there.” Walker said it was an absolute pleasure to train such a superstar sprinter. “It is great for the ownership who have been so understanding about not going to Sydney. We were thinking about her longevity and it is a big thrill.” “I think this mare is keeping Opie in the saddle as well. He is such an important part of our team as well.” Bosson has little doubt she is the best horse he’s ridden during his Hall of Fame career. “She is, by far (the best). I’ve said it a million times (that) I’ve never ridden a horse that can just switch off and go back when you want it. More to come, I think.””It is a lot easier on horses like this. She just does it for me, really. She’s something special. “That wasn’t the plan (to lead). She was comfortable, she changed legs at the right time, on the turn and in the straight and I thought we were going to be hard to beat.” Bosson said the win was right up there with the big highlights of his career – conscious he was aboard a red hot favourite. “It’s up there. I don’t usually get too nervous but I was ‘walking the box’ a bit this morning and didn’t want to talk too much. It got to me a little bit but she pulled me through it.” Imperatriz is likely to start next in the Group One Champions Sprint at Flemington in a fortnight. “I’ve never won a race in a straight line so we’ll both be first timers,” Bosson noted. Today’s win was the 16th from 22 starts for Imperatriz who has now earned her connections over $3.5 million. That’s an incredible return on her $360,000 cost price for Te Akau’s David Ellis at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Imperatriz was bred by Raffles Dancers and sold through the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds – the same vendor who has prepared recent Group One winners Militarize and Tropical Squall – also sold on the Gold Coast. The I Am Invincible mare is from the Group Two placed Shamardal mare Berimbau – a Sydney winner at two who was third in a Moonee Valley Fillies Classic. Berimbau, who is also the dam of the Sydney winner Cabaca, is a half sister to January’s $1 million Magic Millions Cup winner Vinco. The run of success for mares sold by Magic Millions winning feature races today continued a short time later when in Sydney the proven Group One winner Espiona won the $2 million The Invitation. A $190,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds and Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock Agency, Espiona gave her rivals a start and a beating in the fillies and mares feature at Randwick. The Torryburn Stud graduate accelerated strongly in the straight to reel in her rivals and give proven big race jockey Kerrin McEvoy his third win in the relatively new Harbour City feature. Espiona, a daughter of Extreme Choice, has now earned over $2.8 million for her connections. Winner: Imperatriz Breeding: I Am Invincible-Berimbau (Shamardal) Breeder: Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd Race: MVRC Manikato Stakes G1 (1000m) Sold for: $360,000 Sale: 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent) Buyer: DC Ellis Earnings: $3,556,974 Owners: Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) Trainer: Mark Walker (Cranbourne) |
