It was a pink letter day for the Kiwi trio of Mark Walker, Opie Bosson and Te Akau Racing as New Zealand’s pin-up filly. EmpireThe four-time elite-level winner at handmade a gaggle 1 quintet with a decisive victory within the nine-race kart-related characteristic William Reid Stakes (G1) on March 24 in Moonee Valley.
Making their Australian debut at Randwick on 4 March on the Canterbury Stakes (G1), Imperatriz have been defeated by only one head. Artorius He regarded just like the most definitely winner till the final 50 yards.
Retreating 100 meters to his optimum distance for yesterday’s process, the 4-year-old was simple below Bosson, positioning himself in midfield earlier than making a fast stride in the direction of the house nook and staying in prime form, accelerating in nice type on the straight. to beat final 12 months’s Manikato Stakes (G1) hero Bella Nipotina of a decisive size.
Fellowship 1 successful mares Roch ‘n’ Horsewas eaten by two and 1 / 4 size and September RunDefeated by two-and-a-half inches, she rushed dwelling in third and fourth, respectively, with a women-dominated end.
Walker, who took over from Hong Kong-based Jamie Richards as head coach of Te Akau Racing final 12 months after an 11-year stint in Singapore, had only one Australian Group 1 win for himself earlier than doubling that scoreboard at Friday’s occasion. .
“We have been a little bit unfortunate in group 1 through the years, particularly in Melbourne, so it was nice to get the win tonight,” Walker stated.
Imperatriz’s successful hyperlinks in trophy presentation for the William Reid Stakes
“I have been away for a very long time. I have been in Singapore for 11 years but it surely was so satisfying to be again so rapidly and do it. My son Xavier is right here tonight, which is even higher.”
“Opie’s was additionally an amazing experience and timed completely. We needed to do a reasonably lengthy, regular run, so full credit score to the mare, she’s stunning.
“We’ll take him to his dwelling in Te Akau Stud, and we’ll put a few of that stunning New Zealand garden in it and depart it alone.”
Recording an eleventh group 1 victory on Australian soil, Bosson additionally credited the filly with 4 elite-level wins now.
“He is made an unimaginable comeback,” he stated. “He may get himself out of hassle and run a robust 1,400 (meters), so 1,200 (meters) would not be an excessive amount of of a problem.
“There was a variety of stress, I in all probability went again a number of locations greater than I needed to, however ultimately I obtained into the race properly and he actually took care of the remainder.”
Imperatriz, manufactured by Raffles Dancers Pty Ltd, was bought by David Ellis, director of Te Akau from Bhima Thoroughbreds consignment, for AU$360,000 on the 2020 Magic Thousands and thousands Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Better of the 2 winners from the successful group, the 2nd positioned Shamardal filly Berimbaushe’s the half-sister of the double-stake winner Vinko.
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