Two from Two at Woodville - Imperium Impressive

Blue blood galloper Imperium (3 g Encosta De Lago - Ethereal, by Rhythm) gained a confidence building victory in the Motorcycle HQ/Property Brokers Pahitua Maiden 2100 metres on April 16 at Woodville.

Third when resuming off 87-days over a mile recently at Avondale, Imperium had responded well to some chiropractic work behind the saddle since then; the evidence of which could be seen in his winning performance.

Presenting in impeccable condition when loping down in his preliminary for rider Lisa Allpress, Imperium was steadied back in the field in order to secure cover. Following a slow speed and at times interrupted passage, he tracked up wide from six lengths off the pace at the 600m and after quickening to lead at the 200m he flattened out to win effortlessly with his ears pricked.

Breaking through at his fifth start, he seemed to appreciate footing on the cusp of dead and slow and after starting race favourite he returned $2.50 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB.

The win by Imperium improved the solid course record established by trainer Jason Bridgman at Woodville, to five wins from seventeen starters.

“It was a no panic ride from Lisa (Allpress) and great to see him clear maidens,” said Bridgman.

“We felt that following his impressive debut performance last October at Avondale, when he stormed home for third that he would be winning sooner. But he has had his issues when pulling up sore from his Ellerslie run in December and it's taken a bit of work to get him to the form we know he is capable of.

“Through circumstances he never had a lot of favours in the run: was buffeted going into the first turn and ended up in awkward spot, but Lisa showed a cool head, bided time, let the race unfold and when she got him to the outside he put it away pretty quickly. I think in the context of things, although he may not have beaten a strong field, under the circumstances that he did things in very nice manner.

“He is a big horse that will continue to improve with age and I feel that as a staying prospect he will work his way through the grades,” he said.

His dam Ethereal, from Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram), bred and owned by Sir Peter & Philip Vela and trained by Sheila Laxon, became a household name when winning the 2001 Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m). With additional Group One wins in the Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) and BMW (Gr. 1, 2400m), Ethereal amassed earnings of over $6 million with eight wins from twenty-one starts.

Furthermore, his grand-dam Romanee Conti won the Hong Kong International Cup (HK1, 1800m) in 1993, on good to yielding ground, in one of five stakes victories.

Imperium caught the eye of Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sales and he outlaid $425,000 for the colt from the Pencarrow Stud draft, before offering him as part of the Te Akau 2013 Breeding Syndicate.

At the time of purchase, Ellis had said: “He is from the greatest staying mare I've seen, looked an absolute standout from the day he was born and the type of colt that I've bought to emulate his dam, and he too could train on to be Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) horse. He is a magnificent individual and it is a pleasure to have secured him to train."

The first step has now been taken by Imperium and it certainly appears that as he continues to learn the racing caper, and grow in confidence, that he can reach far greater heights.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz