Imperatriz takes out the Champion's Sprint. Picture: Racing Photos
Imperatriz has passed her toughest test yet this season, holding off a gallant Buenos Noches to claim the Group 1 Champions Sprint.
In a star-studded contest, the daughter of I Am Invincible enjoyed a share of the lead with Front Page as the field thundered down the straight.
But as they passed the 250-metre mark, Te Akau’s mighty mare started to up the tempo, and the chasers were quickly under pressure.
Shinn and Buenos Noches dodged back to the inside and started to chase hard, but just as it looked like Imperatriz was under serious threat, she kicked again to win with authority.
She has now won her last five starts in Australia, with four of them coming at G1 level, and has helped Te Akau’s new Australian base stamp their authority on the spring.
Trainer Mark Walker, who made his way across the Tasman for the race, was a touch nervous towards the wire, but delighted to see his galloper win her ‘grand final’.
He also gave credit to NZ-based Opie Bosson, with the champion hoop pulling out three perfect rides for Imperatriz’ three consecutive G1s.
“Probably (feeling) a little bit of relief more than anything. Great to see Opie on the big stage as well,” he said.
“Ben (Gleeson) and the team did a fantastic job. I went home after the Manikato and Ben has assembled a great team that we’ve got a Cranbourne and days like this, it makes it all worthwhile.
“Opie sums things up so quickly from the jump. He’s been on the big stage since he was a teenager, and nothing really fazes him.”
WATCH: Imperatriz win the Champions Sprint
Much has been made of the stable’s decision to keep Imperatriz in Victoria rather than challenge for the lucrative Everest, but Walker maintains that they made the right call.
“It was more about wanting her to get used to the surroundings at Cranbourne and also we do think she’s a little better left-handed,” he said.
“I think we did the right thing… you dream of days like this. There’s a lot that goes into these days from the ground up.”
Bosson confessed that he felt his rivals steaming home as the long straight kept going, but credited the “darling” horse for knuckling down when she really needed to.
“Probably got there a bit soon… geez it’s a long way up that straight,” he said.
“You don’t realise how long it is when you’re left there in front and you can hear them coming, but to her credit she knuckled down and put her ears back.
“She’s a real darling. To have a horse like this in the twilight of my career… it is a dream come true riding a horse like this.”
The jockey has for many decades had a good association with Walker and was elated to be part of the trainer’s first Group 1 win at Flemington.
He also thinks it might be time to start looking beyond Oceania with Imperatriz, and said he would be straight on the plane with her.
“I’ve known Mark since he was 13-year-old and we’ve done a lot of work together. He’s an absolute champion to ride for,” he said.
“We always knew she was really talented. She’s just getting better with age, and she is the real deal and she has proven it now.
“I’d love to (go overseas). I’d love a trip away. It’d be nice to get to Ascot and show them how good she is.”