Kiwi trained glamour mare Imperatriz was narrowly beaten by Artorius in the Group I ATC Canterbury Stakes when making her Australian debut at the start of the month, but made amends for that defeat with a stylish victory in the $1million Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
The Mark Walker-trained daughter of I Am Invincible had regular partner Opie Bosson on board and produced her dazzling best to power home from behind the leaders with a brilliant turn of foot.
She surged clear to win by a length from Group I winning mares Bella Nipotina, Roch ‘n’ Horse and September Run in an all girls finish to the prestige sprint.
“She’s been trouble free this preparation and it was a fantastic ride of Opie’s as well, he just timed it perfectly,” said Mark Walker.
“We had to make a long sustained run, so full credit to the mare, she’s a beauty!
“We’ll get her home to Te Akau Stud and get some of that good New Zealand grass into her and give her a good break now.”
Opie Bosson was thrilled with the win declaring it was only his second victory at the track and he was a little nervous going out, but Imperatriz made it look easy.
“She has an amazing turn of foot and can get herself out of trouble and she can run out a strong 1400m, so 1200m here was never going to be a problem,” he said.
Imperatriz was bought for $360,000 at Magic Millions from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft by David Ellis and was bred by Raffles Dancers Pty Ltd.
Imperatriz has the overall record of 13 wins from 19 starts with $1.6million in prizemoney and is the best of two winners from Berimbau, a Group II placed half-sister by Shamardal (USA) to stakes-winner Vinco, who is also by Imperatriz’s sire I Am invincible.
The family also features Group winners Royal Courtship and Poor Judge as well as stakes-winner Proud Player.
Berimbau produced a colt by Capitalist last spring and was then covered again by I am Invincible.
Imperatriz has won more Group I races than any other of I Am Invincible’s long list of 91 stakes-winners and is his third winner of the MVRC William Reid Stakes joining Loving Gaby and Hellbent.
