Brilliant I Am Invincible mare Imperatriz ran fast to break the course record at Moonee Valley earlier this month over 1000m and she went even faster tonight with regular rider Opie Bosson in the saddle, scorching turf to win the Group I MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) in a blistering 56.47 seconds.
The pinup girl for Te Akau Racing’s new Victorian stable, the Mark Walker trained Imperatriz is in career best form. Ridden patiently by Bosson in the early stages of the race, she soon settled into a rhythm back in the field and zoomed past her rivals over the final furlongs to beat gallant Asfoora by a length.
“She gives you the most amazing feeling when she lets down,” said Opie Bosson.
“She was a bit of a worry today, a bit fresh and tried to buck me off going to the start, so onwards and upwards I think.”
Mark Walker was at the track and again reiterated the intention for Imperatriz to stay in Melbourne to contest the Group I Manikato Stakes and Champions Sprint at Flemington.
“The mare is so happy here and I don’t see any sense in putting her on a float,” Walker said.
“They are prestigious races and she’s loving it down here.”
Bred by Malaysian businessman Dato Yap Kim San’s Raffles Farm, Imperatriz was a $360,000 Magic Millions purchase for David Ellis from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft. She is another nod to the success of the breeding operation, which was managed by Bruce Sherwin since it was established in 2008 and in addition to Imperatriz has produced the likes of Group I winners Glint Of Hope, More Than Sacred and First Seal.
Economic pressures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic forced Dato Yap to sacrifice his ‘hobby’ thoroughbred breeding operation to secure his core businesses throughout Asia. Raffles Farm on the outskirts of Cambridge was sold in 2022, along with almost the entirety of Dato Yap’s Australasian bloodstock portfolio.
Imperatriz has the overall record of 15 wins from 21 starts with $2.1million 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 has a yearling colt by Capitalist and was sold earlier this year in foal again to I Am Invincible for $1.8million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale to Yulong.
Imperatriz is the most successful Group I winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible, who has already taken an early lead on the Australian General Sires List by earnings that he has topped for the past two seasons.
