Te Akau Season - Stakes' Win 8 of 30 - Australia No.1

July sees the final month of our phenomenal 2023/24 racing season.  

As we like to do at this time of the year, we now reflect every day on our Group/Listed performers of the 'season that was' - and there were plenty!  In fact 30 across New Zealand and Australia, with nine at Group 1 level.

Te Akau's Australian operation at Cranbourne contributed a total of nine group races (5 at group 1 level) to the season tally - let's reflect on the first of them ...

Horse of the Year contender Imperatriz (5 m I Am Invincible – Berimbau, by Shamardal) made a real statement when resuming with a track record victory in the A$300,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (Gr. 2, 1000m) on 9 September at Moonee Valley.

The first runner for the new Te Akau stable at Cranbourne, Imperatriz ended her previous campaign brilliantly winning the A$1 million William Reid Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) in March at Moonee Valley, and presented in first-class order.

Purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM, the victory continued an incredible form-line, which saw her win more Group One races (6) in 2023 than any other horse in the world, on the way to capturing 10 Group One wins among a total 19, from 27 starts, nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money, and finally selling when retired in June this year for $6.6 million, becoming the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere.

In winning the McEwen Stakes, Imperatriz faced hot favourite Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), winner of the Everest and two Group Ones, but it mattered little when despite drawing the outside gate (7) she circled around and cleared out to win by two and half lengths.

On Good3 footing, Imperatriz clocked 56.68, beating the previous 1000-metre track record of 56.84, running her last 600m in a scintillating 32.6, and paid $4.20 & $2.10 on the NZ TAB tote. 

It was a stunning performance and a super ride by Kiwi Michael Dee, who never required the persuader and instead rode hands and heels.  

“It was little bit concerning when Giga Kick came around, but I know she’s got a great turn of foot as we’ve all seen in the past,” Dee said.

“As it turned out, I pressed the button too soon because she hit the front within three or four strides.

“Opie (Bosson) said to me yesterday she’s got the best turn of foot of any horse that he’s ever felt and I’ve got to say it’s probably the best one that I’ve ever felt too.

“She came straight up underneath me when I asked the question, it was just a matter of getting to the outside and she was very, very, strong through the line.”

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

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