The cream rose to the top in the feature event at Ruakaka on Saturday in New Zealand where the Mark Walker-trained Imperatriz justified good support to take out the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri Cup (1100m).

Sent out the $1.90 favourite, the dual Group I winner put in a professional display in the hands of Opie Bosson to take victory by half a length from the fast-finishing Dragon Leap.

Imperatriz strengthened her case for favouritism in the first of the Group I contests for the new season, the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on September 10, as she made it four wins in succession and her eighth from just 11 starts to date.

Bosson had the daughter of I Am Invincible settled nicely against the rail in midfield as stablemate On The Bubbles and Golden Hue set up a torrid pace in front.

After edging closer approaching the home turn, Bosson angled Imperatriz into the clear at the 300m and she quickly dashed to the front before holding out the late charge of Dragon Leap who stormed home from a clear last at the top of the straight.

Walker watched the race from his Matamata stables, but liked what he saw from the winner, who lumped equal top-weight with Entriviere and the pair conceded the majority of the field at least five kilograms.

“It was a good effort by a mare to carry 60kgs at this stage of her four-year-old season,” he said.

“We were giving the runner-up 5kgs and he is a quality animal, so I thought it was a very good run.

“Our thinking had been to give all of our three a race today on a better surface to help build their fitness as we work towards the first day at Hastings.

“Originally, we thought we would kick them off in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) at Te Rapa later this month but if they strike a heavy track there it might just take the edge off them for Hastings.

“Now she (Imperatriz) has had a good hit out we can just nurse her along to Te Rapa in three weeks and have her cherry ripe at Hastings two weeks later.

“I had been pleased with her but she had only trialled on the synthetic and it can be hard to get a line on them.

“She showed today just what a competitor she is and that was very pleasing to see.”

Imperatriz was bought for $360,000 at Magic Millions from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft by David Ellis and was bred by Raffles Dancers Pty Ltd.

A five time stakes-winner and two time Group I winner, Imperatriz has the overall record of eight wins from 11 starts and is the second foal and first winner for Berimbau, a Group II placed Shamardal (USA) mare from the family of Group II winner Royal Courtship.

Photo credit: Trish Dunell