Imperatriz winning the McEwen Stakes (Image: Racing Photos)
Star Kiwi mare Imperatriz has had her pre-Moir Stakes warm-up delayed 24 hours so as trainer Mark Walker can see her gallop.
Walker has confirmed that the planned Monday morning gallop had been put back to Tuesday, where the first-up McEwen Stakes winner will take to the track with a most interesting stablemate.
Zoustar filly Zourion will accompany Imperatriz on Tuesday in her first public outing in Australia after two runs for as many wins at home - including a Stakes win at Matamata at her most recent run in February.
Zourion showed she was certainly ready for her Australian campaign when a soft winner of a Listed trial over 1100 metres at Taupo on September 15.
The Cambridge Stud-owned filly will also run at the Moir Stakes meeting on Friday night, where Imperatriz is the hot $2.20 favourite to take the feature.
Zourion will run first-up in the G3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) on her way potentially to a Thousand Guineas start on November 18.
As for Imperatriz, Walker said he cannot wait to see her.
"Everything's going along really well with her. We're very pleased," he said.