Ellis purchased Imperatriz out of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $360,000 and she went on to win 19 of her 27 starts, including 10 Group Ones and earned more than $7.5 million in prizemoney.
Imperatriz was retired earlier this year, and in a full circle moment was offered at Magic Million’s Gold Coast National Broodmare sale where she was purchased by Yulong for A$6.6m, becoming the highest-priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Ben [Gleeson, Te Akau Racing Cranbourne assistant trainer] and I visited her last week at Yulong Stud, north of Melbourne, and we were amazed at the facilities there, simply world-class, and we got to give Imperatriz a pat and see what wonderful order she’s in after being served by Pierata (Pierro) the week before,” Walker said.
“She’s on to the next stage of her career as a broodmare and mother and we look forward with great interest to seeing her progeny racing.”