Champion Galloper Imperatriz has Final Accolade in Sights

WOW!

Te Akau could not be more proud as this season's five-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz headlines the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Horse of the Year finalists announced today.

Alongside her stellar season, which saw Imperatriz win more Group 1 races (5) in the season than any horse in Australasia, and when winning six at the elite level, she won more than any horse in the world.

Imperatriz, last season's Champion Sprinter/Miler and runner up NZTR Horse of the Year last season, is a finalist in the Champion Sprinter/Miler category.

If "Berri" as she is known, can be awarded the ultimate honour of 2023/24 Horse of the Year, this will be the fifth overall champion title in six years won by horses purchased by Te Akau's David Ellis CNZM (Probabeel x2 and Melody Belle x2).

We are also extraordinarily proud that Te Akau has three of the four finalists in the Champion 2YO of the Year category - an award our stable has won 10 times previously in New Zealand (and once in Singapore).

Group 1 Levin Classic winner Quintessa, who was also runner up at the elite level in Australia, features in the finalists for Champion 3YO of the Year while Group 1 New Zealand and Group 2 Australian winner Campionessa is contesting the Champion Middle Distance category.

We are also delighted that Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are one of two finalists for Champion Trainer of the year - how amazing for Sam's first year as trainer.  Te Akau stable jockey Opie Bosson ONZM, with five Australian Group 1 race wins, and three in New Zealand, is also again a finalist for Champion Jockey for the season.

We are also delighted that Te Akau owners Denise Bassett and John Elstob, who amongst many winners were major shareholders in Imperatriz, have also been named as finalists for Owner of the year!

All of our equine finalists were selected and purchased by David Ellis CNZM.

NZ Thoroughbred Racing announces:

Champion Kiwi galloper Imperatriz has a final accolade in her sights

Matamata’s marvelous mare brings unique credentials to this year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards – sponsored by SENZ.

Retired from racing following her autumn campaign, Imperatriz is amongst the standout contenders within the list of finalists for the 2023-24 Awards. After taking runner-up honours in 2023, the $6.6 million mare is likely a key contender for the sprinter-miler category this year, with obvious prospects for the major award. 

Campaigned by Te Akau Racing, the five-year-old mare is the first New Zealand-trained horse to win five Group I races in Australia in a single season since the introduction of the Australian group classification system, in the 1978-79 season.

Group 1 Trackside NZ Derby winner Orchestral is the only horse this year to find herself in two categories.  After her Australian campaign in the Group 1 Vinery Stakes over 2000m, the outstanding daughter of Savabeel cemented herself as a contender in both the three-year-old and staying categories.

Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Orchestral had five wins and two seconds from her eight starts as a three-year-old and earned more than $2 million in stakes.

Six horses, including four fillies, will contest the three-year-old section. Five were Group I winners and are joined by Antrim Coast, the runner-up to Orchestral in the Trackside NZ Derby and a Group II winner in Melbourne at his next start.

The other male candidate is the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Crocetti who was the standout domestic performer in the spring.

Crocetti and Orchestral never met in competition but between them they recorded 11 wins and three placings from 15 starts in the 2023-24 season and grossed close to $3 million in stakes.

Their efforts also ensured that their owners – Daniel Nakhle (Crocetti) and Colin and Helen Litt (Orchestral) – are finalists for Owner of the Year.

Jockey of the Year will be contested between six contenders including premiership winner Warren Kennedy, Opie Bosson who won five Group I races in Australia to go with his three in NZ while Grylls, McNab, Spratt and Doyle all had big seasons as well.

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year results will be announced at the Awards dinner, at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton, on September 8.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year finalists:

Champion Two-Year-Old: Bellatrix Star, Captured By Love, Move To Strike, Velocious.

Champion Three-Year-Old: Antrim Coast, Crocetti, Molly Bloom, Orchestral, Pulchritudinous, Quintessa.

Champion Sprinter-Miler (Up to and including 1600m):  Bonny Lass, Desert Lightning, Imperatriz, La Crique.

Champion Middle Distance Horse (1601m-2200m): Campionessa, El Vencedor, Ladies Man, Legarto.

Champion Stayer: (2201m & further): Asterix, Mahrajaan, Mark Twain, Mary Louise, Orchestral.

Champion Jumper: Berry The Cash, Nedwin, The Cossack, West Coast.

Trainer of the Year: Robbie Patterson, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson Partnership.

Jockey of the Year: Opie Bosson, Joe Doyle, Craig Grylls, Warren Kennedy, Michael McNab, Sam Spratt.

Jumps Jockey of the Year: Shaun Fannin, Portia Matthews, Hamish McNeill.

Owner of the Year: Barneswood Farm, Denise Bassett and John Elstob, Eddie Bourke, Gerry Harvey, Ben Kwok, Brendan and Jo Lindsay Partnership, Colin and Helen Litt, Daniel Nakhle, The Oaks Stud, Kelvin and Vanessa Tyler, Waikato Stud.