Imperatriz wins G1 Lightning in Epic Thriller

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 17

An unimpressive trial created a touch of uncertainty around glamour I Am Invincible mare Imperatriz ahead of her first-up run in Saturday’s $1 million Group I Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington, but the Te Akau superstar wonder-mare blew all those doubts away and carried on her winning way.

Imperatriz digs deep to win the G1 Lightning - image Grant Courtney

The Lightning was the sixth major Melbourne sprint win in succession for Imperatriz, who won the Group I William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last March and then put together a perfect spring campaign with victories in the Group II McEwen Stakes (1000m), Group I Moir Stakes (1000m), Group I Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Group I Champions Sprint (1200m).

The Lightning was the 18th win overall in a 24-start career for the extraordinary galloper, who has won nine times at Group One level between 1000m and 1600m. The daughter of I Am Invincible was bought by David Ellis for $360,000 as a yearling at Magic Millions in 2020, and she has now banked more than $5.9 million for the Te Akau Empress Syndicate.

Advertisement

Those achievements have ensured that the class of the five-year-old could never be in doubt, but a fifth placing in an 800m trial at Cranbourne on February 5 had some questioning whether she was at the peak of her powers as she prepared to launch a new campaign in the Lightning. Her performance on Saturday provided an emphatic response.

Ridden positively by Opie Bosson, Imperatriz went forward and took up a position at the head of the field. She was joined by the A$10 million earner Private Eye, and the pair matched motors most of the way along Flemington’s famous Straight Six.

There was a moment in the straight where Private Eye appeared to be going the better of the pair, but Bosson went to work on Imperatriz and she lifted and edged ahead. She reached the finish line a head in front of Private Eye, clocking 57.54 seconds for the 1000m.

Imperatriz stares down Private Eye, there is a reason she has won nine G1 races and he has won one - image Grant Courtney

“She was always travelling beautifully,” Bosson said. “The other horse was creeping up and creeping up, but once I went for her, she found that kick that she always has.

“There was a bit of pressure today because of that trial, but Mark (Walker, trainer) has been over here and he told me she’s 100 percent. When he says that, he’s usually right.”

Walker has fielded plenty of questions about that Cranbourne trial over the last fortnight, and he was pleased that Imperatriz did the talking with her performance on Saturday.

“It is a relief,” he said. “Good horses probably save their best for raceday. It was a lacklustre trial, it really was, but we were very happy with the mare when we galloped her on Monday.

“It was just a gun ride by Opie today. It was a tactical affair and he used the initiative.

“This mare is just a gem, really, to do what she did in the spring and then come back and win like that first-up.

“Full credit to the second horse. He’s a really good horse and he stuck it to her today. I think you saw two really good horses fighting out an exciting finish.”

Job done - I can relax - image Grant Courtney

Bred by Malaysian businessman Dato Yap Kim San’s Raffles Farm, Imperatriz 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 One 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 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 that made $200,000 at Magic Millions this year for Bhima Thoroughbreds when bought by Lofty Thoroughbred Group/AGR Racing. She was sold last year in foal again to I Am Invincible for $1.8million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale to Yulong and has since produced a full brother to Imperatriz.

Berimbau was covered last spring by the young Yulong stallion Pierata.

Imperatriz is the most successful Group I winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible, who holds a commanding lead on the Australian General Sires List by earnings and stakes-winners. - with contribution from NZ Racing 

Advertisment

Race Result - Black Caviar Lightning Gr1 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 0:57.54
1
Imperatriz
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Berimbau (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: O P Bosson 56.5
I Am Invincible
2
0.2
Private Eye
- 6g Al Maher (AUS) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Shinn 58.5
3
0.7
Espiona
- 5m Extreme Choice (AUS) x Dahooil (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 56.5
4
0.9
Bella Nipotina
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
5
2.4
Rich Fortune
- 4m Rich Enuff (AUS) x Nkwazi's Daughter (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Jerome Hunter Rdr: M Zahra 56.5
6
2.5
Cylinder
- 3c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Circular (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Damian Lane 55.5
7
4.3
The Astrologist
- 7g Zoustar (AUS) x Aquada (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: L Currie 58.5
8
4.4
I Am Unstoppable
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Satin Slipper (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: L Kennewell & L Yeomans Rdr: Jamie Kah 55.5
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 8
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
She’s Invincible! Imperatriz Wins Tenth G1 in William Reid
With a big weight advantage Cylinder was able to win the G1 VRC Newmarket Handicap at the expense of mighty I Am Invincible mare Imperatriz, but he was not a factor when she added a 10th Group One victory to her collection with another supreme performance in Saturday’s $1 million Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
I Am Invincible Mare Crowned Champion Australian Sprinter
New Zealand Horse of the Year Imperatriz had a near perfect season in Australia last term and was duly crowned Champion Sprinter at the Australian Horse of the Year Awards in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Te Akau Chase Back to Back G1 William Reid with Imperatriz
Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand at The Valley on Saturday, with their seven-strong charge being led by their sprinting sensation Imperatriz, who will attempt to defend her crown in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.