Talented three-year-old filly Imperatriz overcame a tardy start to take out the Group III Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Jamie Richards trained Imperatriz, with the daughter of I Am Invincible rearing at the start and settling well off the pace for rider Danielle Johnson before improving along the rail approaching the home bend.
Johnson angled the filly to the middle of the track and she let down with a determined finish to take out the event, her fourth win from just five starts.
“The team is starting to come right now, after a wet, cold spring and the tracks have taken a long time to come right too,” Richards said.
“I feel like we’re getting there now and the stable has had a great day.
“Imperatriz missed the kick, but we were planning to ride her patiently from the draw and it worked out well.
“Danielle did a very good job being able to find clear air when she needed it. She sprinted quickly and was able to sustain the gallop.
“She’d been a little while between runs, so I think her fitness is there to improve further and it was a really good win.
“It was good to see her stay the seven furlongs (1400m) and I guess we’ll have to look at Riccarton now and the 1000 Guineas, but we’ll see how she comes through this first.”
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 three time stakes-winner, Imperatriz 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.
