Te Akau on Exhibition

Trainer Mark Walker took the opportunity to give five horses an exhibition gallop between races on Saturday at Matamata.

On footing rated Heavy10, following 48mls of rain in 48 hours, Champion Three-Year-Old Imperatriz (4 m I Am Invincible - Berimbau, by Shamardal) had Opie Bosson aboard when working with Champion Two-Year-Old Maven Belle (3 f Burgundy - Doyenne, by Kilimanjaro) and jockey Craig Zackey.

Appearing slightly more comfortable in the going, Imperatriz had a narrow advantage over Maven Belle at the line, running 1000 metres in 59.8, 800m in 46.5, and last 600m in 34.2.

Purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM, owned by Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM),  four-time Group One winner Imperatriz is preparing to depart on Monday night ahead of the A$600,000 Canterbury Stakes (Gr. 1, 1300m) on next Saturday (4 March) at Randwick.

Homebred filly Maven Belle, who included winning the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) last season, winner of six from eight, is aiming for the $80,000 Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1400m) next Saturday, Derby Day, at Te Rapa. 

Another homebred filly, Safura (3 f Almanzor - Corsage, by Volksraad), ridden by Joe Doyle, worked with 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Legarto (Proisir) over 1000m in 58.8, 800m in 47.1, and 600m in 35.5. 

Safura finished third in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 1 January at Te Rapa, before winning over 2000 metres at Matamata, and preparing for the $100,000 Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) next Saturday, Derby Day, at Te Rapa.

Staying types Leaderboard (8 g Street Cry - Flower Fairy, by Dynaformer), ridden by Craig Zackey, and Savoir Faire (3 g Savabeel - Etiquette, by O'Reilly), Joe Doyle, strode out over a lap, running 1000m in 1:00.8, 800m in 48.7, and 600m in 36.8.

Last start winner in the Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m), Leaderboard is preparing for the Auckland Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m) on Saturday 11 March at Pukekohe, and Zackey gave Fortuna Racing manager John Galvin a glowing report after his work.

Third in the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m) last time out, Savoir Faire is preparing for the $1,000,000 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) next Saturday (4 March) at Te Rapa.

Purchased by David Ellis at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, he will join Dynastic (Almanzor), whom Ellis bought as a yearling at Karaka, as Derby entrants for the stable.

Although Dynastic had the precocity as a two-year-old to win the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), he has developed into a staying type at three, as evidenced by his win on Saturday in the Rating 75 2000 metres at Matamata.