Decision pending on Imperatriz

Te Akau’s next move with top-class mare Imperatriz will be locked in after she works on her home track at Matamata on Saturday.

The multiple Group One winner is on target for her first overseas venture, but where she makes her Australian debut has yet to be confirmed.

The Mark Walker-trained Imperatriz will either head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4 or to Melbourne for the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington a week later.

“She will be galloping between races at Matamata and we will be making a decision after that as to what we do,” Te Akau chief David Ellis said.

“She has trained on very well and Mark is really happy with her.”

Imperatriz is unbeaten in three appearances this preparation following a first-up success in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and then claimed the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) before an explosive victory in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).

2023 NZB national online yearling sale entries open

Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 National Online Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held on NZB’s online subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus for the third year.

The catalogue will be available to view online from Wednesday 5 April, with bidding set to close on Wednesday 19 April.

Rich Hill Stud Principal John Thompson views the Sale as a viable option for breeders who are willing to offer their horses online.

“I believe this sale on Gavelhouse Plus offers a great alternative for later maturing horses who weren’t quite ready for Karaka,” Thompson said.

“For instance, we sold a filly called Contagious by Proisir online in 2021, who was purchased by Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $41,000. She was recently Group Two placed at Te Rapa, placing third behind the future Karaka Million winner Prowess.

“We’ll be supporting the Sale again with some quality yearlings. We’re hoping to enter a draft of at least eight at this stage.

“For us, we view the online format as a cost-effective way of marketing these horses but they still get plenty of exposure and end up in good stables.

A significant benefit of the digital catalogue is that all lots offered in the National Online Yearling Sale are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Million Series.

Just nine short months after they make their virtual sale-ring debut, graduates of the online sale can compete for a share in the 2024 $1 million Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), followed by the 2025 $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and $120,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup (2200m) for the remainder of their careers.

Entries for the 2023 National Online Yearling Sale are open now and will close Wednesday 22 March. To enter the Sale, visit NZB's online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz or for enquiries contact NZB's Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey by calling +64 9 393 9832 or emailing MaryJane.Harvey@nzb.co.nz.

Following normal Sale protocol, the National Online Yearling Sale will continue to be run under NZB Terms and Conditions. For more information about the Sale, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email Kane.jones@nzb.co.nz.

Golden result for Kiwi-bred pair

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott celebrated a winning double at Kembla Grange on Thursday courtesy of Kiwi-breds The Years and Goldman.

Time Test juvenile The Years was having just his second raceday start and his trainers were looking for a bold performance over 1300m and he duly delivered with a near five length victory.

“I have always liked The Years,” Bott told RadioTAB.

“In his debut he threw in a hidden run. He got back around a tight track and his first ask he got a little bit lost. I thought he would improve dramatically off that.

“Back to a big track he was able to have a positive ride. It was great to see him show the early promise he had. I think he can go right on with it.”

The Years was purchased by his trainers in partnership with bloodstock agent Chris Rutten out of Wentwood Grange’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000.

Verdi gelding Goldman was fresh-up over 2000m and put in a similarly impressive performance as his stablemate, winning by 5.2 lengths.

“Goldman, the New Zealand stayer, I guess they are hard to get a line on, so the dominance of the win caught me a little bit by surprise,” Bott said.

“With those Kiwi stayers they can excel once you get them over a trip.”

With the victory, Goldman extended his record to three wins and a placing from five starts.

Goldman initially raced in New Zealand under the care of trainer Tony Pike for whom he won two and placed in one of his four starts in his homeland.