Australasia’s darling of the turf Imperatriz has returned home to Te Akau Stud in New Zealand for a spell following a stellar season in Australia.

The flagbearer for Te Akau Racing’s newly-established Cranbourne barn, Imperatriz won six of her eight starts this season, including the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m), Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).

The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was also runner-up in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and ended her season with a trip to Sydney where she finished fourth in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday.

Bought by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for A$360,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Mark Walker-trained mare has now won 19 of her 27 career starts, including 10 at Group One level, and nearly A$7 million in prizemoney.

“What a great way to start our Cranbourne stable, with a horse that’s rated the second best in the world, the best sprinter in the world, and we’re just very proud to have been able to buy her,” Ellis said.