Imperatriz (horse) explained

Horsename:	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]
Race:	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)

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]

Racing career

Imperatriz is 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.

Notes and References

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