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

Australasia’s foremost bloodstock firms will be asked to submit pitches to sell the outstanding racemare Imperatriz following the 10-time Group 1 winner’s retirement from racing.

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis confirmed on Thursday that Imperatriz had run her last race, ending a spectacular career that started in New Zealand and finished with a rush of Group 1 wins in Australia.

Imperatriz bows out after her fourth-placed finish to Chain Of Lightning in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, the only time she has missed a top-two finish in Australia in 10 starts.

In keeping with recent Te Akau decisions to offer its elite racemares for public auction, Ellis confirmed Imperatriz would be sold as one of the most valuable broodmare prospects in the world.

“We’ll get reports from the three sales companies – New Zealand Bloodstock, Magic Millions and Inglis,” he told The Straight.

“We’ll read them and then we’ll make a decision.

“We sold Melody Belle at Magic Millions. Avantage, we sold her online with New Zealand Bloodstock through Gavelhouse.

“So we’ve got an open mind and we’ll work out what’s best for Imperatriz.”

A daughter of champion Australia sire I Am Invincible, Imperatriz leaves racing with 19 wins from 27 starts and almost $7 million in earnings.

“We’ve got an open mind and we’ll work out what’s best for Imperatriz.” – David Ellis

First trained by Jamie Richards before Mark Walker took over as Te Akau’s head conditioner, Imperatriz broke through at Group 1 level as a three-year-old in winning the 2022 Levin Classic among four successes at the highest level in New Zealand.

But her career reached new and dizzying heights in Australia as she helped launch Te Akau Racing’s new stable in Melbourne in a blaze of glory, mostly when ridden by champion New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson.

She opened her Australian Group 1 account in last year’s William Reid Stakes before returning to make a clean sweep of the Melbourne spring carnival with four victories.

Among them were Group 1 wins in the Moir Stakes and Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley and the Champions Sprint during the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.

Further victories in the Black Caviar Lightning and last month’s William Reid put Imperatriz in rare company because only three horses in Australia – Winx, Kingston Town and Weekend Hussler – have won more Group I races in a season of racing.

“We have just got to be grateful that we’ve had such a fantastic run with her and that she’s stayed sound,” Ellis said.

“She will develop into a beautiful broodmare.”

Ellis said it wasn’t a difficult decision to retire Imperatriz, who was given a thorough veterinary examination when she returned to New Zealand.

“Our policy is that we keep racing (our mares) as five and six-year-olds providing they are one hundred per cent,” he said.

“If they show a little bit of wear and tear that’s their way of telling us that they’re ready f0r the next stage their career. That’s what we do.

“She’s been absolutely unbelievable. She’s been a great ambassador for Te Akau Racing in Melbourne, Te Akau Racing at Matamata and Te Akau Stud.

“At Cranbourne, it’s a credit to them for the job they’ve done looking after her. It’s been a very exciting period of time.”

Only two Group 1-winning broodmares by I Am Invincible have sold at public auction in Australia.

Tatt’s Tiara winner Invincibella fetched $1.3 million while Viddora, winner of the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes and 2018 Moir Stakes, was sold for $2.55 million. Both were sold in 2020.

The average price of a Group-winning I Am Invincible broodmare at public auction has been $1.12 million.

Te Akau 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’s been a great ambassador for Te Akau Racing in Melbourne, Te Akau Racing at Matamata and Te Akau Stud.” – David Ellis

Avantage was sold by New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse Plus and her purchase price set a record for a thoroughbred auctioned on an online platform.

“Imperatriz has been a magnificent racemare, I loved her from the time I set eyes on her at the Magic Millions’ sale,” Ellis said.

“What she has done since has firmly established her as one of the very best racemares Australasia has seen in recent times.”

Ellis paid $360,000 for Imperatriz at the Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds.

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.