Mighty mare hits Sydney
There is a certain symmetry to Imperatriz’s long-awaited return to Sydney racing in the TJ Smith Stakes, named in honour of the legendary trainer.
Her owner David Ellis from Te Akau Stud revealed he enjoyed a close relationship with Smith and idolised one of the trainer’s greatest horses.
“I was very good friends with Tommy Smith, he would come and stay on the farm here (near Matamata, New Zealand),’’ Ellis said.
“Of course, Tommy trained Kingston Town and I just loved that horse when I was growing up.’’
Ellis, New Zealand’s leading owner who now has a growing presence in Australian racing with a permanent stable base at Cranbourne, has had some outstanding racehorses himself over the years.
They include Melody Belle which won 14 Group 1 races during her career, the same number as Kingston Town, and Avantage, a nine-time Group 1 winner from 1200m to 2000m.
But Imperatriz has probably usurped those mares and earned champion status with an enviable race record of 19 wins from 26 starts including 10 Group 1 successes for career prizemoney of more than $6.8 million.
Imperatriz comes to Sydney after winning five Group 1 races in Melbourne this season including last start in the William Reid Stakes.
“I think she will be racing in Sydney at the top of her game,’’ Ellis said.”
Imperatriz, who is trained by Mark Walker and ridden by Opie Bosson, has raced exclusively in Melbourne this season, winning six of her seven races and recording five Group 1 wins in the Moir Stakes, Manikato Stakes, Champions Sprint, Lightning Stakes and William Reid Stakes.