Imperatriz (horse)

Imperatriz (foaled 16 August 2018) is an Australian-bred and New Zealand raced Thoroughbred racehorse, notable for winning nine Group 1 races in New Zealand and Australia. Imperatriz was bred by Raffles Dancers (N Z) Pty Ltd.^[2]

Imperatriz
Sire	I Am Invincible (Aus)
Grandsire	Invincible Spirit (Ire)
Dam	Berimbau
Damsire	Sharmadal
Sex	Mare
Foaled	16 August 2018
Country	Australia
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Raffles Dancers (N Z) Pty Ltd
Owner	Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership, (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)
Trainer	(1) Jamie Richards, Matamata (2) Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata (2) Mark Walker, Cranbourne
Record	24: 18–2–1
Earnings	AU$5,950,167[1]
Major wins
Levin Classic (2022) New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (2022) Railway Stakes (2023) BCD Group Sprint (2023) William Reid Stakes (2023, 2024) Moir Stakes (2023) Manikato Stakes (2023) Champions Sprint (2023) Lightning Stakes (2024)

Racing career

Imperatriz was raced by the Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership, managed by Karen Fenton-Ellis.

Her initial race training was at Matamata and she had her first race on 26 November 2020 at Otaki, ridden by Danielle Johnson, which she won by a short neck. She continued her career in New Zealand, initially ridden by Danielle Johnson until the end of 2021, then Michael McNab and Opie Bosson. She moved to Te Akau's Australia stables in 2023.

In the 2023 McEwen Stakes, Imperatriz ridden by Michael Dee carrying 56.5kg, broke the 1000m track record at The Valley when winning in 56.56 seconds.^[3] A fortnight later with Opie Bosson aboard she bettered her own track record with a 56.47 second victory in the A J Moir Stakes.^[4]

Racing career

The following are the races competed in by Imperatriz: ^[5]

2020

• 1st Usabus & Coaches (2YO SW+P 1100m, Otaki) beating Mochatini and Silky Red Fox ^[6]

2021

• 1st Eclipse Stakes (Group 2 1100m, Ellerslie) beating Stormy and Sword Of State ^[7]
• 1st Northland Breeders Stakes (G3 1200m, Te Rapa) beating I Wish I Win and Farrenc ^[8]
• 3rd Gold Trail Stakes (G3 1200m, Hastings) behind Bellacontte and Mustang Valley ^[9]
• 1st Soliloquy Stakes (G3 1400, Matamata) beating Dubhai Diva and Belle En Rouge ^[10]
• 4th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (G1 1600m, Riccarton) behind The Perfect Pink, Shepherd's Delight and Belle En Rouge

2022

• 2nd Almanzor Trophy (G3 1200m, Ellerslie) behind Sword Of State, with Wewillrock third ^[11]
• 1st Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m, Matamata) beating Les Crayeres and Dragon Queen ^[12]
• 1st Levin Classic (G1 1600m, Trentham) beating On The Bubbles and I Wish I Win^[13]
• 1st New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (G1 1600m, Te Rapa) beating Coventina Bay and Two Illicit ^[14]
• 1st Kerikeri Cup (Open Hcp 1100m, Ruakaka) beating Dragon Leap and Winning For All ^[15]
• 1st Foxbridge Plate (G2 1200m, Te Rapa) beating Butler and Demonetization ^[16]
• 4th Tarzino Trophy (G1 1400m, Hastings) behind Dark Destroyer and Spring Tide ^[17]
• 8th Arrowfield Stud Plate (G1 1600m, Matamata) won by La Crique from Mustang Valley
• 1st Railway Stakes (G1 1200m, Te Rapa) beating Babylon Berlin and Levante ^[18]

2023

• 1st Westbury Classic (G2 1400m, Counties) beating Our Alley Cat and Dragon Queen ^[19]
• 1st BCD Sprint (G1 1400m Te Rapa) beating Babylon Berlin and Levante ^[20]
• 2nd Canterbury Stakes (G1 1300m, Randwick) behind Artorius with Electric Girl third ^{[21] [22]}
• 1st William Reid Stakes (G1 WFA 1200m, The Valley) beating Bella Nipotina ^{[23] [24]}
• 1st McEwen Stakes (G2 1000m, The Valley) beating Rothfire and Giga Kick^[25]
• 1st A J Moir Stakes (G1 1000m, The Valley) beating Asfoora and Uncommon James ^[26]
• 1st Manikato Stakes (G1 1200m, The Valley) beating I Am Me and Uncommon James ^[27]
• 1st Champions Sprint (G1 1200m, Flemington) beating Buenos Noches and In Secret^[28]

2024

• 1st Black Caviar Lightning (G1 1000m, Flemington) beating Private Eye and Espionia ^[29]
• 2nd Newmarket Handicap (G1 1200m, Flemington) behind Cylinder with The Astrologist 3rd. In this race Imperatriz carried 58kg, while Cylinder was on 51.5 and The Astrologist on 52.5.^[30]
• 1st William Reid Stakes (G1 WFA 1200m, The Valley) beating Johnny Rocker and I Am Me.

References

1. "Imperatriz Horse Search". racingnsw.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
2. "Imperatriz (AUS) 2018 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
3. "McEwen Stakes 2023 Results: Imperatriz Wins Ahead of Moonee Valley Group 1s - races.com.au". www.races.com.au. September 9, 2023.
4. "Horse racing: Imperatriz breaks track record again at The Valley". NZ Herald. October 29, 2023.
5. "Imperatriz Racehorse Profile, Stats, Form Guide, News & Results | Racenet". racenet.com.au.
6. "Race 2 UZABUS & COACHES at LEVIN RC on 26 NOV 2020 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
7. "Race 3 BARNESWOOD FARM ECLIPSE STAKES at AUCKLAND RC on 1 JAN 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
8. "Race 5 CAMBRIDGE STUD NORTHLAND BREEDERS' STAKES at WAIKATO RC on 4 SEP 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
9. "Race 7 HAWKE'S BAY BREEDERS' GOLD TRAIL STAKES at HAWKE'S BAY RI on 18 SEP 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
10. "Race 6 MATAMATA VETERINARY SERVICES SOLILOQUY STAKES at MATAMATA RC on 23 OCT 2021 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
11. "Race 3 CAMBRIDGE STUD ALMANZOR TROPHY at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 22 JAN 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
12. "Race 6 LISA CHITTICK PLATE at MATAMATA RC on 26 FEB 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
13. "Race 6 WELLINGTON SEAMARKET LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 19 MAR 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
14. "Race 7 FIBER FRESH NZ THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS' STAKES at WAIKATO RC on 16 APR 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
15. "Race 8 ALIBABA'S FLYING CARPETS KERIKERI CUP at WHANGAREI RC on 6 AUG 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
16. "Race 6 WAIKATO STUD FOXBRIDGE PLATE at WAIKATO RC on 27 AUG 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
17. "Race 9 TARZINO TROPHY at HAWKE'S BAY RI on 10 SEP 2022 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
18. "Third G1 for Imperatriz - Invincible Mare Wins Railway at Te Rapa | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
19. "Race 2 WESTBURY CLASSIC at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 21 JAN 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
20. "Race 8 BCD GROUP SPRINT at WAIKATO RC on 11 FEB 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
21. "Zac Purton lifts Artorius to extraordinary win in Canterbury Stakes". racenet.com.au. March 4, 2023.
22. "Racing.com". www.racing.com.
23. "Fifth G1 Win for I Am Invincible Mare Imperatriz | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
24. "Horse racing: Kiwi mare stars in William Reid". NZ Herald. October 29, 2023.
25. "Full Result 7.15 Moonee Valley (AUS) | 9 September 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
26. "Full Result 12.15 Moonee Valley (AUS) | 29 September 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
27. "Horse racing: Imperatriz stuns Aussie punters". NZ Herald. October 29, 2023.
28. "Full Result 4.50 Flemington (AUS) | 11 November 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
29. "Full Result 5.15 Flemington (AUS) | 17 February 2024 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
30. "Full Result 4.05 Flemington (AUS) | 9 March 2024 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.