It's Sale Eve

On the eve of a very special day for our beloved ten-time Group 1 glamour girl, Imperatriz, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey we've had with this extraordinary mare. Tomorrow, around 4:30 pm local QLD time (6:30 pm NZT) at the Magic Millions 2024 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, she will go under the hammer, marking the start of a new chapter.

For her owners and our entire Te Akau team, the life we have shared with Imperatriz has been nothing short of amazing, both on and off the track. We are particularly humbled by the huge support and love the racing public has shown to our brave Berri. Her spirit, determination, and charm have left an indelible mark on all of us, for which we will all be forever grateful.

Imperatriz won 19 of her 27 starts, including 10 of 13 since 1 January last year, and nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money. Selected and purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Magic Millions' Gold Coast Sale for A$360,000, she now returns to where this magical journey began.

We extend our deepest gratitude to her tangerine ‘family’ that simply adores her: her owners, her trainers, Te Akau’s stable and stud teams in New Zealand and Cranbourne, with special mention to Te Akau Australia assistant trainer Ben Gleeson, her devoted strappers Jason Levin, and before him, Hunter Durrant and Laura McNab, track work rider Laura Winks. Of course also Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM who forged such a special and successful relationship with Berri.

Many people have played their part in bringing out the very best in the spectacular mare - including our veterinary team, farriers and other professionals - thank you for the passion and care you have always shown our girl.

As Imperatriz embarks on her new chapter, we salute her indelible legacy, she indeed changed lives and we feel so privileged to have had her in ours. We eagerly anticipate following her progeny and witnessing what the future holds - her spirit will continue to inspire and resonate with all who had the honour of supporting her through this journey.

As we look forward to what lies ahead, we want to say thank you Berri for the joy and the truly unforgettable moments. This isn’t goodbye—it's just the beginning of a new adventure. Always our girl, we bid you farewell with all our love! Here’s to you Imperatriz!