Imperatriz and Opie Bosson kick clear to win the G1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley. (Image: Racing Photos)
Imperatriz will not gallop at Moonee Valley next week but Te Akau maintains the star sprinter is still right on track for a tilt at a 10th Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) Saturday week.
The Valley has been the five-year-old mare’s happy hunting ground having won both the Moir and Manikato last spring, and using the venue as a regular galloping surface even prior to racing at other tracks, but assistant trainer Ben Gleeson says there is no need for another look at the track.
“She’s still going (to the William Reid), we just don’t want to take her to The Valley, she doesn’t need to go,” Gleeson said.
“We’ll just keep her at home and gallop her, she knows it well enough to not have to go there.
“She will most likely gallop Tuesday or Wednesday depending on where we can get her a gallop.”
Imperatriz was beaten but far from disgraced in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) last Saturday having pulled up with EIPH which requires veterinary clearance before racing again.