Special gallop at The Valley has Imperatriz primed for Moir Stakes
Exclusive use of The Valley track for a gallop has ensured top Kiwi mare Imperatriz is ready to chase a fourth Group 1 win of the year in Friday night’s Moir Stakes.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An exclusive gallop on Tuesday morning was all Kiwi outfit Te Akau Racing needed to be sure star mare Imperatriz is ready chase another Group 1 win in Friday night’s Moir Stakes.
Te Akau Racing was granted permission for sole use of The Valley track on Tuesday morning while some of her Moir Stakes rivals were among the 40 horses that galloped at the venue on Monday morning.
Moonee Valley Racing Club officials failed to publicise the special hitout beforehand but Te Akau trainer Mark Walker was on hand to watch Imperatriz gallop with unbeaten stablemate Zourion.
Te Akau’s Melbourne representative Ben Gleeson said the hitout showed Imperatriz had improved since her blistering first-up win in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes earlier this month.
Gleeson said overnight watering of the course produced a perfect surface for Imperatriz’s final gallop before Friday’s $750,000 event.
IMPERATRIZ (outside) gets her final look of The Valley before the Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes on Friday night!
— Moonee Valley Racing Club (@TheValley) September 25, 2023
She worked with ZOURION who will run in the University Food Group Scarborough Stakes 🊠@TeAkauRacing#LoveTheValleypic.twitter.com/DakgaFQO5U
“The grass was perfect after they put 5mm of water on it overnight so it was a Good 4 or Soft 5,” Gleeson said.
“She zipped around there and she couldn’t have been more impressive.
“She went better around there than she did before the McEwen anyway.”
Imperatriz broke the 1000m record at The Valley with her dominant win over Queenslander Rothfire and last year’s Everest winner Giga Kick.
Giga Kick went to the spelling paddock after picking up a muscle injury in the McEwen Stakes but Gleeson said the win took less than expected out of Imperatriz.
Gleeson said the five-year-old had thrived in her work leading up to bid for a fourth Group 1 win in 2023.
“I know, by breaking the clock, that we might think she’s had a pretty tough run but she had cover and things did pan out well for her to do what she did and she was eased up on the line,” Gleeson said.
“She did very little in the week following it and she’s bounced out of it.
“Coming home from the pool in the afternoon, she’s got a spring in her step and she’s fresh.
“I think that shows she’s really done well out of that win.”
Te Akau Racing’s stable jockey Opie Bosson will travel from New Zealand to ride Imperatriz on Friday night.
Gleeson said the camp would not mind if Imperatriz again drew the outside barrier in the Moir Stakes.
“We’re hoping we get a wide barrier again where she can sit back with cover and pounce on them late,” Gleeson said.
“If we can get a similar map to last start, we’d be pretty happy with that.”
TAB has Imperatriz at $1.90 in its early Moir Stakes betting ahead of Asfoora at $5.
Originally published as Special gallop at The Valley has Imperatriz primed for Moir Stakes
Racing heavyweights endorse The Everest’s ‘deserved’ Group 1 status
The Everest and All-Star Mile have been announced as freshly-minted Group 1 races.
Japanese stayer to hit Warp Speed in Melbourne Cup
Competitive efforts in top staying races in his homeland should ensure Japanese stayer Warp Speed will be competitive in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.