Magic Millions wins race to auction retired sprinting star Imperatriz

Imperatriz will be offered for sale at public auction without having to leave the lush surroundings of the Te Akau Stud paddock she has graced since retiring from racing.

The 10-time Group 1 winner will be catalogued as part of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale but the obvious headline act will be nowhere to be seen at the Gold Coast complex next month.

In what has been described as unique circumstances, Imperatriz will be sold virtually.

But bidding to secure the mare rated No.1 on the latest world’s best racehorse rankings will be available at the sale and on Magic Millions’ online platform.

Imperatriz was retired after contesting the TJ Smith Stakes during The Championships at Randwick in early April.

She bowed out with 19 wins and four placings from 27 starts almost $7 million in stakes for a syndicate headed by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis and his wife Karyn.

Ellis invited Australasia’s three biggest bloodstock firms for submissions to sell Imperatriz not long after the mare returned to New Zealand following an Australian autumn campaign that delivered Group 1 wins in the Lightning Stakes and William Reid Stakes.

In between she ran the bravest of placings as topweight in the Newmarket Handicap.

Her deeds on both sides of the Tasman have Imperatriz in the running for 2023/24 horse-of-the-year honours in Australia and New Zealand.

“We sought proposals for the sale from the major Australasian thoroughbred sale companies, and she returns to where her fairytale career began,” Ellis said.

“She is the most globally recognised mare ever offered at public auction in the southern hemisphere.

“Her outstanding achievements speak volumes about her exceptional talent and tenacity on the track.”

Ellis paid $360,00 for the daughter of champion sire I Am Invincible from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Milanova is the most expensive broodmare sold at an Australian auction, fetching $5 million when bought by Coolmore at the 2008 Inglis Broodmare Sale in Sydney.

Expectations are high that Imperatriz will command an Australian record on the back of worldwide interest.

Only two Group 1-winning broodmares by I Am Invincible have sold at public auction in Australia – Invincibella ($1.3 million) and Viddora ($2.55 million).

‘Up for grabs’ – Battle to sell Imperatriz on after star mare’s sudden retirement

David Ellis says it will be up to the three major auction houses in Australia and New Zealand to make a case for selling Te Akau Racing’s retired star Imperatriz.

The StraightWarwick Barr

Te Akau has a rich recent history in offering elite racemares, having sold 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle at public auction for $2.6 million through the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

That figure was bettered a few months later when Coolmore paid $NZ4.1 million for the syndicator’s nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage.

“She is the most globally recognised mare ever offered at public auction in the southern hemisphere” – David Ellis on Imperatriz

Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said the company was honoured to have the responsibility to present Imperatriz as a guilt-edged breeding prospect.

“Since selling Imperatriz in 2020 we have proudly watched on and celebrated as she established herself as one of the greatest sprinters in the world,” he said.

“It is incredibly rare that a mare of her calibre is offered at public auction and we can’t thank David, Karyn and Imperatriz’s connections enough for entrusting us with her journey to the breeding barn.”

The National Broodmare Sale will be held from May 28 until May 30.