MissJools

IMPERATRIZ - 10X GROUP 1 CHAMPION RETIRED It is with very mixed emotions that Te Akau Racing announces the retirement of our star mare and champion, Imperatriz. Currently Imperatriz is rated as the No.1 sprinter in the world and No.2 overall on TRC Global Rankings. In 2023, Imperatriz won more Group 1 races (6) than any other horse in the world! Her 2023/24 season has also been nothing short of stellar … with five Group 1 victories in Australia, taking her career tally to ten elite titles. She also recorded a Group 2 win in Australia where she set a new track record, and at her next start broke the very record she had just set. Imperatriz also became the first horse to ever win the MVRC Group 1 Sprint Triple Crown - effectively twice - in both a calendar year (2023) and a racing season (2023/24). Winning both starts as a two-year-old, including the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes, Imperatriz won two Group 1’s over a mile at three to be named New Zealand’s Champion Three-Year-Old. She then added three Group 1’s as a four-year-old to claim the title of New Zealand’s Champion Sprinter/Miler, and in more recent times has made her mark trans-Tasman, lauded by many commentators as the best sprinter in Australia. She set track records at Moonee Valley, then conquered the Flemington straight with Group 1 wins in both the Champions’ Sprint and the Black Caviar Lightning Handicap, the second highest rated sprint race in the world (2023 IFHA). “Imperatriz has been a magnificent race mare, I loved her from the time I set eyes on her at the Magic Millions’ sale. What she has done since has firmly established her as one of the very best race mares Australasia has seen in recent times,” said David Ellis CNZM. “From a filly that was the last to sell as a yearling, she became a Champion racehorse and when Karyn and I saw her win her second Group 1 William Reid at Moonee Valley last month, we couldn’t believe the crowd’s adulation for her, The Valley was a sea of tangerine,” Te Akau’s David Ellis CNZM said. “Her tenacity, courage and sheer determination, combined with the sweetest nature you could imagine, have certainly won the hearts of fans worldwide. The joy she has brought to her owners is indescribable.” Imperatriz won 19 of her 27 starts, including 10 of 13 since 1 January last year, and nearly NZ$7.6 million in prize money. Last weekend, Imperatriz returned home to New Zealand, for a well-deserved break at Te Akau Stud. On her arrival, she underwent an in-depth veterinary ‘warrant of fitness’ to assess her well-being before spelling. Regrettably, these evaluations have led to the difficult but necessary decision to retire her from racing. “Te Akau always puts the well-being of our horses first. The indications are that another high-level racing preparation would not be in her best interests, so whilst sad, the decision is very straightforward. Her welfare is our top priority, and she will retire a happy and sound horse,” David Ellis CNZM said. Purchased by Ellis from the Magic Millions’ sale for A$360,000 (from the draft of Brim Thoroughbreds), Imperatriz is trained by Te Akau’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and has dominated the racing scene this season. “Imperatriz was simply an incredible race horse - her determination and will to win was supreme. She has been remarkable flag bearer for Te Akau’s new Australian stable and we will be forever indebted to her. It has been such a privilege to train Berri, and she’s been an absolute pleasure by every measure,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. We extend our deepest gratitude to her whole ‘family’ that simply adores her: her owners, Te Akau’s Stable and Stud teams in New Zealand and Cranbourne, with special mention to Te Akau Australia assistant trainer Ben Gleeson, her devoted strapper Jason Levin and track work rider Laura Winks - also Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM who forged such a successful partnership with Berri. As Imperatriz embarks on this new chapter, we reflect on her indelible legacy. We eagerly anticipate following her progeny and witnessing what the future holds. While her racing days have drawn to a close and the curtain has fallen, her spirit will continue to inspire and resonate with all who had the privilege of witnessing her greatness. “She's a Berri, Berri good mare, and one that will we forever treasure.

He shouldn't be allowed to train Horses again after doing what he did. Hope the Horse is ok, and can go on and have a successful career. He shouldn't even be allowed to even look at a Horse, no need for that kind of behaviour whatsoever.

He shouldn't be allowed to train Horses again after doing what he did. Hope the Horse is ok, and can go on and have a successful career. He shouldn't even be allowed to even look at a Horse, no need for that kind of behaviour whatsoever.

He shouldn't be allowed to train Horses again after doing what he did. Hope the Horse is ok, and can go on and have a successful career. He shouldn't even be allowed to even look at a Horse, no need for that kind of behaviour whatsoever.

He shouldn't be allowed to train Horses again after doing what he did. Hope the Horse is ok, and can go on and have a successful career. He shouldn't even be allowed to even look at a Horse, no need for that kind of behaviour whatsoever.

He shouldn't be allowed to train Horses again after doing what he did. Hope the Horse is ok, and can go on and have a successful career. He shouldn't even be allowed to even look at a Horse, no need for that kind of behaviour whatsoever.

He shouldn't be allowed to train Horses again after doing what he did. Hope the Horse is ok, and can go on and have a successful career. He shouldn't even be allowed to even look at a Horse, no need for that kind of behaviour whatsoever.

Impressive last-start Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous will continue her racing career in Australia following her sale this week.
The Chad Ormsby-trained filly has been the subject of interest from prospective buyers from around the globe, care of her commanding Oaks victory, which came just eight days after a strong win in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2000m).
The daughter of Wrote will join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after a deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo in conjunction with the Waterhouse-Bott team.
The winner of three of her seven starts, the staying-bred three-year-old flagged her ability last spring when winning a 1400m maiden at Tauranga, but has taken giant strides more latterly as one of the elite members of the three-year-old crop.
With the Lowland Stakes postponed and relocated to Taupo this year due to the abandonment of the Hastings meeting on which the fillies feature was originally carded, plans for Pulchritudinous to join the Waterhouse-Bott stable sooner were thwarted.
“She’s a filly that we have been following closely based on Rob’s (Waterhouse) form,” Bott said.
“Rob has helped us buy a lot of horses out of New Zealand in the tried-horse space, which have been very good to the stable over a long period of time. This is a filly that Rob identified pretty early. We actually tried to buy her after the Lowland, but the (short) time-frame (to the Oaks) didn’t allow vetting in time.
“From Rob’s data standpoint, it was no surprise to see her come out and win the Oaks and we were lucky we had great support on the filly and were able to secure her for the stable.”
Waterhouse and Bott are keen to assess the filly when she arrives next week, but given the close proximity to the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) following a sale-pending few weeks, other three-year-old targets are more likely.
“She will arrive over here on Monday and we will keep going with her this preparation,” Bott said.
“With the timing of the Australian Oaks it might be a bit of a tight turnaround.
“At this stage we are looking at all of the Group One targets for three-year-olds in that middle distance range. The Australasian Oaks (Gr.1, 2000m) and the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) are now worth $1 million each and then there is the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) and Queensland Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) as well.”
Bott said the eyes and ears of respected bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo were a significant assist and they were buoyed by his positive feedback.
“I was at Tauranga the day that she won (in October) and I thought she was most impressive that day,” Cataldo said.
“She presented as a great type. I thought she was a real classic style of filly. She came onto the radar that day and I had been watching her ever since and tried to buy her straight after the Lowland.
“Hence I thought we were always at the front of the queue and I’m delighted she will be joining Gai and Adrian. She’s a stunning filly with plenty of upside.”
Pulchritudinous was the first Group One winner for Chad Ormsby, who only trains a small team and is most-noted as a trader of horses under his Riverrock Farm banner.
Ormsby purchased the daughter of Wrote out of Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $32,500 as a pinhook prospect for the Ready To Run Sale later that year, however, she failed to meet her $50,000 reserve.
Ormsby backed his judgement in the filly, who he always envisaged would be a middle-distance type, and brought in partners including Chris Grace, Jason Walker and his mother-in-law Jane and her partner Darren Roach to race the filly.
“It is bitter-sweet to sell her, but that’s the business we’re in,” Ormsby said. “As much as it didn’t feel quite right to sell her, it is the right thing at this stage of our career and pathway we are taking. We move on to the next one hopefully.
“I’m delighted for our owners as they all jumped on board with the hope to sell her at some point and the fact that we did get a Group One out of her sealed the deal and we were able to enjoy that along the way. It’s a case of having the cake and eating it too.”
The hands-on horseman said the New Zealand Oaks would long hold fond memories, with his young family on-course to witness the Group One triumph. Additionally the fact he selected Pulchritudinous as a yearling and was able to take her through to being a Group One winner was particularly special.
Ormsby wished the new connections well and believes there is plenty of upside.
“She has hit a rich vein of form and with fillies when they hit that form they can be very hard to beat,” he said. “I feel like with time there is a lot more in store for her and from what I feel even in this last week, she is a filly I think will mature into a Group One winner over a mile.” 

Also, it looks like there' finally going to be a website yoo.  Have always wondered why they don't have one, and Trackside is also going back on Freeview.  Don't know when that'll be happening.

You can find out here: https://www.racenet.com.au/news/orchestral-wins-2024-group-1-vinery-stud-stakes-at-rosehill-20240328?fbclid=IwAR1HSBqeiRfTqtsCXVJ73ZFsFzQv

Also, hope Michael Dee is in the saddle on the first Tuesday in November!!  Mark Twain hopefully get a nice lightweight in the Cup, and Michael Dee is naturally a lightweight rider!!

You can find out here: https://www.racenet.com.au/news/orchestral-wins-2024-group-1-vinery-stud-stakes-at-rosehill-20240328?fbclid=IwAR1HSBqeiRfTqtsCXVJ73ZFsFzQv

Impressive last-start Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous will continue her racing career in Australia following her sale this week.
The Chad Ormsby-trained filly has been the subject of interest from prospective buyers from around the globe, care of her commanding Oaks victory, which came just eight days after a strong win in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2000m).
The daughter of Wrote will join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after a deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo in conjunction with the Waterhouse-Bott team.
The winner of three of her seven starts, the staying-bred three-year-old flagged her ability last spring when winning a 1400m maiden at Tauranga, but has taken giant strides more latterly as one of the elite members of the three-year-old crop.
With the Lowland Stakes postponed and relocated to Taupo this year due to the abandonment of the Hastings meeting on which the fillies feature was originally carded, plans for Pulchritudinous to join the Waterhouse-Bott stable sooner were thwarted.
“She’s a filly that we have been following closely based on Rob’s (Waterhouse) form,” Bott said.
“Rob has helped us buy a lot of horses out of New Zealand in the tried-horse space, which have been very good to the stable over a long period of time. This is a filly that Rob identified pretty early. We actually tried to buy her after the Lowland, but the (short) time-frame (to the Oaks) didn’t allow vetting in time.
“From Rob’s data standpoint, it was no surprise to see her come out and win the Oaks and we were lucky we had great support on the filly and were able to secure her for the stable.”
Waterhouse and Bott are keen to assess the filly when she arrives next week, but given the close proximity to the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) following a sale-pending few weeks, other three-year-old targets are more likely.
“She will arrive over here on Monday and we will keep going with her this preparation,” Bott said.
“With the timing of the Australian Oaks it might be a bit of a tight turnaround.
“At this stage we are looking at all of the Group One targets for three-year-olds in that middle distance range. The Australasian Oaks (Gr.1, 2000m) and the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) are now worth $1 million each and then there is the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) and Queensland Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) as well.”
Bott said the eyes and ears of respected bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo were a significant assist and they were buoyed by his positive feedback.
“I was at Tauranga the day that she won (in October) and I thought she was most impressive that day,” Cataldo said.
“She presented as a great type. I thought she was a real classic style of filly. She came onto the radar that day and I had been watching her ever since and tried to buy her straight after the Lowland.
“Hence I thought we were always at the front of the queue and I’m delighted she will be joining Gai and Adrian. She’s a stunning filly with plenty of upside.”
Pulchritudinous was the first Group One winner for Chad Ormsby, who only trains a small team and is most-noted as a trader of horses under his Riverrock Farm banner.
Ormsby purchased the daughter of Wrote out of Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $32,500 as a pinhook prospect for the Ready To Run Sale later that year, however, she failed to meet her $50,000 reserve.
Ormsby backed his judgement in the filly, who he always envisaged would be a middle-distance type, and brought in partners including Chris Grace, Jason Walker and his mother-in-law Jane and her partner Darren Roach to race the filly.
“It is bitter-sweet to sell her, but that’s the business we’re in,” Ormsby said. “As much as it didn’t feel quite right to sell her, it is the right thing at this stage of our career and pathway we are taking. We move on to the next one hopefully.
“I’m delighted for our owners as they all jumped on board with the hope to sell her at some point and the fact that we did get a Group One out of her sealed the deal and we were able to enjoy that along the way. It’s a case of having the cake and eating it too.”
The hands-on horseman said the New Zealand Oaks would long hold fond memories, with his young family on-course to witness the Group One triumph. Additionally the fact he selected Pulchritudinous as a yearling and was able to take her through to being a Group One winner was particularly special.
Ormsby wished the new connections well and believes there is plenty of upside.
“She has hit a rich vein of form and with fillies when they hit that form they can be very hard to beat,” he said. “I feel like with time there is a lot more in store for her and from what I feel even in this last week, she is a filly I think will mature into a Group One winner over a mile.” 

Also, hope Michael Dee is in the saddle on the first Tuesday in November!!  Mark Twain hopefully get a nice lightweight in the Cup, and Michael Dee is naturally a lightweight rider!!

I agree, a very well deserved retirement, Zaaki had nothing left to prove.  No use racing him until he breaks down,  retire him while he's sound and happy.

leave  george alone best commentator left tony lee and him a class above anyone 

I agree, a very well deserved retirement, Zaaki had nothing left to prove.  No use racing him until he breaks down,  retire him while he's sound and happy.

Annabel Neasham’s Zaaki has been retired, ending a seven-year career that saw four Group 1 wins, $11 million in prizemoney, and an All-Star Mile victory.
A son of Brazilian sire Leroidesanimaux, Zaaki started his career in the UK before being purchased by Neasham for $150,000 GNS ($A305,000).
Since then, he has been a constant force in the highest levels of Australian racing, winning 11 races and becoming synonymous with Neasham’s stable as she established herself Down Under.
 
 
“The day has come, a bittersweet day, to retire our superstar Zaaki,” Neasham said in a video posted to X/Twitter.
“As a young trainer setting out, who would’ve thought I’d come across a horse like Zaaki from Day 1… I owe a huge amount of our success to him.
“Thank you, Zaaki, so much for what you’ve done for me and my career, and for everyone else around and involved in you.”
 
Annabel Neasham is hoping Zaaki will have a career in the Equestrian Sports, with maybe Annabel in the saddle.

Annabel Neasham’s Zaaki has been retired, ending a seven-year career that saw four Group 1 wins, $11 million in prizemoney, and an All-Star Mile victory.
A son of Brazilian sire Leroidesanimaux, Zaaki started his career in the UK before being purchased by Neasham for $150,000 GNS ($A305,000).
Since then, he has been a constant force in the highest levels of Australian racing, winning 11 races and becoming synonymous with Neasham’s stable as she established herself Down Under.
 
 
“The day has come, a bittersweet day, to retire our superstar Zaaki,” Neasham said in a video posted to X/Twitter.
“As a young trainer setting out, who would’ve thought I’d come across a horse like Zaaki from Day 1… I owe a huge amount of our success to him.
“Thank you, Zaaki, so much for what you’ve done for me and my career, and for everyone else around and involved in you.”
 
Annabel Neasham is hoping Zaaki will have a career in the Equestrian Sports, with maybe Annabel in the saddle.

Group 1 winning hoop Michael Dee has taken things to new heights – quite literally – by recently becoming a licensed private helicopter pilot.
 
By and large, traditionally many of them like to take to the golf course or fishing, some even take their fitness to the next level and run triathlons. Campbell Rawiller trains greyhounds, Ben Allen is a DJ and Remi Tremsal is a salted-caramel chef - these are just some that come to the top of mind.
But Group 1 winning hoop Michael Dee has taken things to new heights – quite literally – by recently becoming a licensed private helicopter pilot.
“I try to play golf but maybe it wasn’t a big enough adrenaline rush for me,” Dee confessed.
“I was always quite fascinated with how helicopters operated and thought I’d give it a go.
“I’m always looking and have the flight app and the radar and if I see a plane go over or helicopter I have a look and see what it is.
“It’s a little bit nerdy!”
After completing up to 80-hours of supervised flying, post the spring carnival Dee successfully conducted a navigation course with an examiner and sat 3.5-hour theory exam to gain a license of a different kind.
 
“I am probably more comfortable on a horse at this stage,” Dee admitted.
“They are two very different things… a helicopter you have more control over but it depends if it was a real rogue of a horse.
“I had my first time flying to the races the other day and my heart was pumping flying there and then you get on the horse and your heart is pumping again.
“I think because I am at my early stages of flying I am really thinking about it and not as relaxed as I should be as opposed to on a horse, so that will come in time.”
While the hobby’s of jockeys may well be varied, some thought Dee’s new-found pursuit was even farfetched or not believable.
That was until he arrived at Bendigo races recently in his very own chopper landing in the middle of the racecourse with Jye McNeil onboard as passenger.
“I don’t think anyone really believed it for a really long time until they saw it with their own eyes,” Dee said.
“There’s no shortage (of passengers) but when it comes to pricing and what jockeys have to pay they shy away from the idea!
“The original idea was to fly to country meetings and more or less have a bit of fun.”
While Dee has no ambitions to fly commercial planes when his time in the saddle comes to an end, he does admit the license comes with its advantages.
“When you’re in the air and you see there is a lot of traffic especially over the Wast Gate or the Bolte Bridge or the Monash. you look down and just laugh inside,” he said.
“I am just hiring a local helicopter at the moment but maybe if I win a big race potentially that’s an idea (buying a helicopter).
“But I have to earn some more money first!”