Imperatriz ‘underwhelming’ in trial ahead of Lightning Stakes bid: Jockey Michael Dee

Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne representative Ben Gleeson says the stable is not overly concerned after champion sprinter Imperatriz’s lacklustre trial on Monday morning.

Imperatriz in Monday morning’s trial.

Brilliant Kiwi mare Imperatriz struggled to match some of her Lightning Stakes rivals in a trial at Cranbourne on Monday morning — but that stable isn’t concerned.

The eight-time Group 1 winner finished fifth behind the Grahame Begg-trained Cinderella Days in an 800m heat with jockey Michael Dee in the saddle.

The Mark Walker-trained mare was close to the leaders at the 300m but didn’t show her customary acceleration while talented types Passive Aggressive and I Am Unstoppable cruised past Imperatriz late.

Dee admitted the trial “to the eye, it looked a little bit underwhelming.”

Eight-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz trialled at Cranbourne this morning.

Micky Dee admitted it looked “underwhelming”.

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Jockey Mick Dee joined RSN to share the latest on Imperatriz after her trial at Cranbourne.

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However, Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne representative Ben Gleeson said the stable was not overly concerned.

He said there was no issue with Imperatriz, adding the winner of 17 of 23 starts was merely a touch lazy in her trial.

“She came back and she was her normal self,” Gleeson said.

“She put in an OK performance. It wasn’t like her regular outstanding efforts, which has created the expectation on her.

“She was just a little bit lazy I think. Her action was fine and Mick said her breathing was fine and everything about her seemed normal.

Imperatriz (orange) behind Bella Nipotina (right), Cinderella Days (second right) and I Am Unstoppable (second left).

“She didn’t put in her usual effort and Mark and I see that she gets a little bit accustomed to her routine and gets a bit lazy in her work sometimes.”

Gleeson added Sunday’s weather could have left Imperatriz flat on Monday morning.

The temperature rose to nearly 40C at Cranbourne on Sunday, conditions Gleeson said were foreign for the daughter of I Am Invincible.

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“I think you can’t rule out what that does to horses,” Gleeson said.

“I don’t think she’s ever experienced a day as hot as that in her life, especially not in New Zealand. She feels the heat when it’s 30 degrees and yesterday (Sunday) was 40 so I think you have got to take into account a few of these horses do struggle off the back of a hot day and the up and down conditions.

“But after every trial, a vet checks our horses and he was more than happy with her.”

Gleeson said Imperatriz would have another track gallop next week before the Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

Imperatriz is a $1.90 favourite to win the Lightning Stakes.

TAB was taken with Passive Aggressive and I Am Unstoppable’s trials, turning that pair in from $15 to $11 in their Lightning Stakes market.

Bella Nipotina, who ran third in last year’s Lightning Stakes, finished second in the heat.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina is an $8 chance in betting on Saturday week’s Lightning Stakes.

Cinderella Days clocked 44.85 seconds for the 800m, half a second slower than Grand Impact’s winning time in the second trial of the morning.

Originally published as Imperatriz ‘underwhelming’ in trial ahead of Lightning Stakes bid: Jockey Michael Dee