Imperatriz Crowned Horse of the Year

Te Akau Racing was again amongst the thick end of titles at the 2023-24 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards held on Sunday night at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton.

Winning nine of 13 titles at the recently held Matamata Racing Awards, including their ninth consecutive Matamata Horse of the Year, won by Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), it was the Champion Mare that ruled once more when crowned NZ Thoroughbred Horse of the Year, sponsored by SENZ. 

Beaten a lip in HOY last year, Imperatriz, the Logines Highest Rated Mare and Best Sprinter in the World last season, was a moral for top honours on this occasion and, literally, won by the length of the straight.

Imperatriz followed former Te Akau trained Horse of the Year winners Melody Belle (Commands) and Probabeel (Savabeel), who each won twice, and previously King’s Chapel (King of Kings) - all, as with Imperatriz, purchased by David Ellis CNZM.

Imperatriz also defended her title as Champion Sprinter/Miler, sponsored by RaceForm, and became the first horse to win the NZTR Outstanding Global Achievement award.

Purchased for A$360,000 by David Ellis CNZM at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds, Imperatriz was owned by Te Akau Invincible Empress Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Retired and sold in June this year for a$6.6 million, becoming the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere, Imperatriz recorded 10 Group One wins, from 1000m – 1600m, among 19 victories from 27 starts, and nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money. 

For the lucky syndicate owners, they turned A$360,000 into more than $14.5 million.

Accepting the HOY award on behalf of the owners, Ellis initially took the time to thank Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who addressed the audience, and now in his third term as Minister of Racing, along with Emily Bosson and Guy Heveldt as MC. 

“It certainly was fortunate to buy both Imperatriz and Sword Of State (whose first yearlings are offered in 2025 at Karaka) on the same day,” Ellis said. 

“We only bought three horses that day, and you just need a bit of luck in this industry because there are always a lot of very good judges on the sales grounds.

“It’s been an incredible ride for the owners of Imperatriz and we get such a charge out of seeing the thrills that these great people get. They’ve been successful in what they’ve done in their lives and they bring their family and friends, children and grandchildren, to the races to share the experience.

“With Imperatriz, it’s been incredible to represent New Zealand on the world stage and to be the Champion Sprinter in the world is an amazing achievement. 

“There have been so many people involved in her success: Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) who trained her, our racing manager Reece Trumper, all our staff at Te Akau Stud, and Laura Winks that rode her in track work at our stables in Cranbourne. 

“I’ll never forget James McDonald coming up to me and asking how on earth we got Laura Winks working for us. He said: she is the best track work rider I’ve ever seen. 

“So having her riding work for us at Cranbourne, and Ben Gleeson, Mark’s assistant trainer in Melbourne, they’re all doing a wonderful job from Matamata, Cranbourne, the farm, and also Hunter Durrant who runs our South Island stable at Riccarton.

“Hunter took Imperatriz on her first trip to Australia, so it’s a team effort and Karyn and I are very proud to be a part of it.”

Imperatriz took on the best sprinters last season in Australia, and beat them.

Imperatriz – 2023/24 season timeline:

9 September Moonee Valley – 1st McEwen Stakes (Gr. 2, 1000m)

29 September Moonee Valley – 1st Moir Stakes (Gr. 1, 1000m)

28 October Moonee Valley – 1st Manikato Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m)

11 November Flemington – 1st Champions Sprint (Gr. 1, 1200m)

17 February Flemington – 1st Lightning Stakes (Gr. 1, 1000m)

9 March Flemington – 2nd Newmarket Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m)

23 March Moonee Valley – 1st William Reid Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m)

6 April Randwick – 4th T J Smith Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m)

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Syndicate manager Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM accepted the Champion Sprinter/Miler award for Imperatriz, and was on stage with Mark Walker for the Outstanding Global Achievement award.

“She might have been Australian bred, but bought and trained by Kiwis and to have a New Zealand mare right up there on the world stage is incredible,” she said.

“In the 2023 calendar year she won more Group One races (6) than any horse in the world, and last season she won more Group One races than any horse in Australasia. 

“She is ours, was the bringer of great joy, and also the last to sell as a yearling in her year. She sat on the website and no one wanted her final shares, so you never know where the next great one is coming from.

“It’s a testament to her speed, her spirit, her heart, and we just felt so proud each time she stepped out to be flying the flag for her owners and the people of New Zealand. There were so many people involved on her journey. 

“I’d like to pay kudos to my husband, David, who purchased her, Mark and Sam who trained her, the team at Matamata, and Cranbourne, where Ben Glesson oversaw her, Laura Winks who rode the track work, and Jason Levin, the strapper, who loved her to pieces.

“And particularly to our farm team when she came home to retire at Te Akau Stud and the wonderful owners who put their faith and confidence in us – it’s been an extraordinary journey.

“We just wanted to see her acquit herself as fantastically as she could because the horse is at the heart of everything we do, and, of course, she had a formidable relationship with Opie Bosson.”

Walker said: “We were blessed on that day at the Gold Coast Sales to buy both Imperatriz and Sword Of State, and thanks to Dave and Karyn for her syndicating her.

“The ownership group was unbelievable, even after things went a bit pear-shaped during the spring of her four-year-old season there was never one murmur out of the camp.

“We made some changes, recovered her form, and the rest is history. When you go to racecourses, like Moonee Valley, and they’ve got beer coasters with Imperatriz on them, you know you’ve made it.

“Initially, as a three-year-old, she won Group One races at a mile and Jamie (Richards) left her terrific order for when I took over.

“I woke one night and wrote down ‘back’ in my note book when she was having a few physical problems as a four-year-old, and after identifying that we that we thought outside the square and started training her differently as a sprinter.

“We trained her on the treadmill, limited time with a saddle on her back, and most of her work was done in a straight line. 

“She was a unique individual and she was great.”

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The Owner of the Year award, sponsored by TAB, was won by husband and wife John Elstob & Denise Bassett, who won 56 races last season with Te Akau horses they have shares in, while a quarter share (25%) in Imperatriz was their standout.

They also have the same interest in Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), a finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old, who provided stable rider Opie Bosson his 2000th win when scoring impressively on debut and recorded a brilliant victory in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) last season. 

Owned by Te Akau 2023 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Move To Strike was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $525,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud, at 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. 

“We’ve had a pretty special time, obviously with Imperatriz, but with a number of other horses as well, and one hell of a season,” said Elstob, who employs around 90 people in his business at SVS Veterinary Supplies.”

The Owners of the Year award came against an incredible list of finalists, which included Waikato Stud, Brendan & Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud), The Oaks Stud, Gerry Harvey (Westbury Farm), and Barneswood Farm.

“One of our highlights was being on course at Randwick, when Imperatriz ran her last race, and we watched Move To Strike win the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Wellington, and with one of the owners, Glenn Holmes, we were just in awe watching it,” Bassett said.

“It was pretty special on Champions Sprint Day at Flemington, seeing Imperatriz lead past the clock tower and I thought it’s still a long way to the finish, but keep going she did,” added Elstob.

“We are led by DC (David Ellis) and Karyn, Mark (Walker), Marcus (Corban), Reece (Trumper), who make up the buying team, and we believe in letting the people that know what they’re doing and let them guide us. 

“It is great fun and you can have a lot of fun in life if you want to. Purely and simple it’s the people involved that makes it for us. There are some really good people, and you can bring your family and friends along to watch horses racing. Have a drink and have fun.

“Te Akau has won the Trainer’s Premiership, Opie (Bosson) is a champion jockey, and they have a lot of good people around them and they make things happen.”

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Assured of winning the 15th Trainers’ Premiership for Te Akau, with a tally of 169 domestic wins last season, Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson also won Trainer of the Year, sponsored by Dunstan Feeds, an award won last year by Walker (securing his 10th premiership) following a record-breaking 203 wins and $8.25 million in stakes money. 

The 2023/24 racing season was another memorable one for Te Akau Racing, recording the second highest number of both wins and stakes money in New Zealand racing history.

Walker was joined in partnership this season by Bergerson to achieve 169 wins, including 63 wins in the South Island, winning on 28 different tracks, and $8 million in stakes money, while Walker also steered the Te Akau stable at Cranbourne (Victoria) to win 24 races and NZ$7.6 million in stakes money in Australia.

Again there was a high ratio of stakes winners: 30 in total, including nine Group Ones, with 21 stakes wins in New Zealand and nine in Australia.

“We started our Australian stable at Cranbourne, as well last season, which was always going to be a challenge,” Walker said.

“We were down a little bit in numbers, but our results were still very good, and Sam (Bergerson) has done a great job.

“His work ethic is second to none and it’s exciting to be working with not just Sam, but our whole entire young team of staff. And Sam and I also have to make special mention of our assistant trainer Nicole Shailer, who is sort of like our camp mother to everyone.

“One of the special days last season was on a day at Hastings, winning the El Roca with Tokyo Tycoon, Quintessa won the Gold Trail, and Skew Wiff won the Tarzino, which provided Sam with his first Group One winner, and then Imperatriz won first-up in the season at Moonee Valley.”

Following his first full season as a trainer, Bergerson said: “It’s been massive for me and I’m grateful to Mark, Dave, and Karyn, for giving me the opportunity to train these wonderful thoroughbreds.

“We’ve had fantastic support from the owners and we’ve got a great staffing group, as well. 

“I’m from a family that has been involved in racing for a long time (third generation trainer) and feel very fortunate and privileged to be in this position. 

“I have to pay special mention to Jamie (Richards), who took me under his wing. He was a massive contributor to what I learned, and now it’s a privilege to work alongside Mark Walker. 

“Mark has been fantastic for me, he’s level headed, even in times of adversity, and he’s given me plenty of good advice.

“One of the special memories last season was watching Move To Strike win the Group One Sires’ with some really good Te Akau owners, Glenn & Cathie Holmes, and Dad’s horse Bradman won on the same day.”

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In the past seven years, Te Akau has won 23 horse awards and 19 people awards 

at the Horse of the Year ceremonies