Racing: Imperatriz set to remain a Valley Girl

Imperatriz. Photo / File.

Imperatriz will remain a Valley girl this spring, with Te Akau Racing ruling out a bid at the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.

She made an emphatic start to her spring campaign at The Valley on Saturday when taking out the Group2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), adding to her victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at the Melbourne track March.

The A$20m prizemoney on offer for The Everest has been a big carrot that has dangled in front of her connections for the past month and trainer Mark Walker yesterday ruled out a trip to Sydney this spring to tackle the lucrative race.

“We had a bit of a team talk — Dave [Ellis, Te Akau principal], Karyn [Fenton-Ellis] and I — and we do think it is in her best interests to stay in Melbourne with no extra travel up to Sydney,” Walker said.

“She is happy at our Cranbourne stable and we do think she is a little bit better left-handed, although arguably her form is still very good right-handed. But we are happy with her staying in Melbourne.”

Imperatriz’s eye-catching performance on Saturday wasn’t a surprise to Walker, who has been impressed with the way she has returned as a 5-year-old.

“We were quietly confident because before she went to the Taupo trials, Opie [Bosson, jockey] galloped her on the Friday morning and he came back saying, ‘I think she’s better than she was last year’,” Walker said.

“We went in thinking that for a while, Sam [Bergerson, New Zealand co-trainer] and I, and it’s hard to believe you could go much better than last year.

“We do think she is going that much better. She doesn’t have any niggles at the moment and she is just in really great form.

“It [Saturday’s win] was brilliant. Ben [Gleeson, Cranbourne assistant trainer] came over and spent a week with Sam and I and got to know Imperatriz, and she has just travelled over so well.”

With a line ruled through The Everest, Imperatriz is now earmarked to return to The Valley for her next two starts for the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) before a possible tilt at the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 11.

“She is two for two at The Valley now and her next two runs will be at The Valley. It’s pretty exciting times coming up for the whole team,” Walker said. Loveracing.nz