Friday night summary: Imperatriz dazzles in William Reid

6 min read
The final night meeting at Moonee Valley for the 2022/23 season was farewelled with a bang when the star Kiwi mare proved the best in the G1 William Reid S.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Te Akau star Imperatriz proves her class

Friday night’s G1 William Reid S. at Moonee Valley was full of fireworks when Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain), In The Congo (Snitzel) and Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) flew the barriers and set a frenzied pace. However, it was the tangerine silks of Te Akau Racing carried by the star New Zealand mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) who absorbed the pressure and was strongest late.

The Mark Walker-trained 4-year-old mare, ridden by Champion New Zealand Jockey Opie Bosson won by 1l from the bonny Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) in second and the multiple Group 1-winner Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) 1.25l away in third.

Mark Walker and Opie Bosson all smiles after winning the G1 William Reid S. at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

It was Imperatriz’s first Group 1 in Australia, with the star daughter of I Am Invincible being a four-time Group 1 winner in her homeland. She was narrowly beaten by the star galloper Artorius (Flying Artie) in the G1 Canterbury S. at her last start.

In winning the G1 William Reid S. she also provided her trainer Mark Walker with his first Victorian Group 1.

Mark Walker told Racing.com: “We will take her home to New Zealand, get on that great Kiwi grass at Te Akau Stud, and a plan will be made from there.”

“We will take her (Imperatriz) home to New Zealand, get on that great Kiwi grass at Te Akau Stud, and a plan will be made from there.” - Mark Walker

The mare is the second foal and best produce from the Shamardal (USA) mare Berimbau

Imperatriz was a $360,000 yearling purchase by David Ellis from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds from the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

A fee has yet to be announced for the mare’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible, who stands at Yarraman Park Stud.

First stakes winner for Brave Smash

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}), provided his young Aquis Farm-based sire his first stakes winner in the Listed Valley Pearl, at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Brave Mead bolts in to win the Listed Valley Pearl at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Jockey John Allen, carrying the silks of Australian Bloodstock, guided the 2-year-old colt to an emphatic win, with 2.7l to Ana Jaahza (Better Than Ready) in second and Celestial Storm (Zoustar) a further 3.3l in third.

Co-trainer David Eustace told Racing.com: “The stallion is pretty smart, we have a couple of nice ones in the barn. We were a little bit disappointed first-up when he raced a touch green, but it was great to see him do that tonight.

“We may look at the G1 Sires’ Produce S. in Sydney in eight days, but he didn’t do much tonight and looks like he’ll get 1400 metres without an issue.”

“The stallion (Brave Smash) is pretty smart, we have a couple of nice ones in the barn. We may look at the G1 Sires’ Produce S. in Sydney in eight days, but he (Brave Mead) didn’t do much tonight and looks like he’ll get 1400 metres without an issue.” - David Eustace

Brave Mead is the 10th foal from the Galileo (Ire) mare Mead. She was a winner twice during her career. She was sold at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $30,000 to Australian Bloodstock, who also raced Brave Smash (Jpn) during his Australian career.

The colt is a half-brother to the Listed Geelong Classic winner Solemn (Bernardini {USA}) and Group 3 placegetter Honeywine (Street Cry {Ire}).

Furthermore, this is the family of Classic winners, La Volta (Laranto), who won the G1 Australasian Oaks and Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt), who won the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

Brave Smash (Jpn) | Standing at Aquis Farm

Brave Mead was a $90,000 yearling purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing from Lustre Lodge when offered through the 2021 Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.

Brave Smash stands at Aquis Farm in Canungra, Queensland. The stallion’s 2023 service fee is yet to be announced.

Red-hot form continues for Sirileo

Friday’s G2 Sunline S. at Moonee Valley was very much a one act-affair for Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai).

Sirileo Miss blitzes her rivals in the G2 Sunline S. at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

The Symon Wilde-trained 5-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai was a triple Group 3 winner prior to tonight and added her first Group 2 success to her CV.

Partnered by Ben Melham to a 5.5l victory from the 3-year-old filly Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) in second and the fellow daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Deny Knowledge (Ire) 0.1l away in third.

The stable representative for Wilde Racing, Liam Hoy told Racing.com: “We potentially could look at the G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes in Sydney on April 8 with her now. She deserves a shot at Group 1 level, after that effort.”

“We potentially could look at the G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes in Sydney on April 8 with her (Sirileo Miss) now. She deserves a shot at Group 1 level, after that effort.” - Liam Hoy

The mare is the sixth foal from the Galileo (Ire) mare She’s Sirius. Sirileo Miss was bred by the O’Meara family who have retained an interest in the mare. She was a $60,000 yearling purchase by Wilde Racing from the draft of Miranda Park when offered at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

The Coolmore-based Pride Of Dubai is enjoying a fine season, siring Group 1 winners Bella Nipotina and Dubai Honour (Ire). A 2023 covering fee for Pride Of Dubai has yet to be announced.

Papillion Club gives Toronado stakes winner 33

The G3 Alexandra S. at Moonee Valley on Friday night was won in impressive fashion by the progressive Papillon Club.

The Greg Eurell-trained 3-year-old daughter of Toronado (Ire) partnered by interstate jockey Tim Clark, justified her short quote put up by bookies.

Greg Eurell told Racing.com: “This filly will likely be in the paddock by Monday morning. She has done a massive job and this race wasn’t on the radar.”

Tim Clark guides Papillon Club to the line to take out the G3 Alexandra S. at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Papillon Club is the fourth foal and the best produce from the Redoute’s Choice Butterfly Club.

She was a $70,000 yearling purchase by her trainer Greg Eurell when offered by Rosemont Stud at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale.

It was stakes winner number 33 for Swettenham’s Toronado. A 2023 service fee has yet to be announced for Toronado.

Moonee Valley
William Reid S.
Imperatriz
Te Akau Racing
Opie Bosson
Sirileo Miss
Pride Of Dubai
I Am Invincible
Symon Wilde
Papillon Miss
Greg Eurell
Sunline S.
Alexandra S.
Brave Smash
Brave Mead
Ciaron Maher Racing