Imperatriz to stay in Melbourne

[Wandering Eyes]

Star Kiwi sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is likely to follow the Melbourne spring Group 1 sprint races path rather than head to Sydney, according to Te Akau Racing’s Melbourne assistant trainer Ben Gleeson.

Gleeson said he had spoken to Te Akau Racing head trainer Mark Walker on Sunday morning after Imperatriz’s track record-breaking effort to win the McEwen Stakes at The Valley on Saturday.

Gleeson confirmed Imperatriz’s next start would be in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29.

Gleeson said they would then decide as to whether they could head to Sydney to contest The Everest or stay in Melbourne for the two remaining Group 1 sprints of the spring, the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and then the VRC Sprint Championship (1200m) at Flemington.

Gleeson said they were leaning to staying in Melbourne, as she raced better there than in Sydney.

“I spoke to Mark this morning. We’ll head towards the Moir. There are options after that, but we’ll concentrate on the Moir and then she can go to the Manikato and the VRC Sprint.  If we can win them all, or a couple, that’s going to be lucrative,” Gleeson said.

“Obviously, she has an appreciation of the Valley, where she can use her turn of foot around that corner and that’s something we want to keep in her favour.”

Gleeson, who worked with Danny O’Brien as assistant trainer, said he’s still coming to terms with how lucky he was getting the role as Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer in Melbourne and then having the amazing start with Imperatriz being his first runner from the new Cranbourne base.

“I’m glad to be part of such an amazing organisation; it was opportunistic for me, and I couldn’t appreciate it more. They have been so welcoming. To see her do that has set us up the right way from the start.”

Gleeson said he went over to New Zealand before he started to learn about their systems and also to spend time with Imperatriz.

“I spent a lot of time with assistant trainer and Mark’s co-trainer Sam Bergerson, and I picked their brains as much as I could and tried to learn all the nuances she had and get all the one-percenters. They have been incredibly helpful.”

Gleeson said Imperatriz had been at Cranbourne for two weeks and was so relaxed he compared her to a stayer and all he had done was try and replicate what they did in New Zealand.

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained five winners at Hastings on Saturday, including the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy with Skew Wiff.

Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) will come to Melbourne and contest a race such as the Empire Rose Stakes.

The stable will have its second starter under Gleeson when four-year-old gelding Lord Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) runs in a 1300 metres Benchmark 84 race at Sandown on Wednesday.

“Lord Dynastic won the Karaka Millions as a two-year-old, but he’s more of a 2000 metres horse,” he said.

Lord Dynastic finished third in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas last season and finished seventh in the New Zealand Derby.

His stablemate Savoir Faire (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished sixth in the New Zealand Derby, is also heading to Melbourne on Monday with stakes placed three-year-old filly Rubicon Crossing (Rubick).

Gleeson said undefeated three-year-old filly Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) and one of their winners from Saturday, Fashion Shoot (NZ) (Savabeel), would also be coming to Melbourne.

Zourion will be set for the Thousand Guineas.

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