Imperatriz puts rivals to the sword in the G1 Manikato Stakes

Imperatriz’s Victorian spring romp continued on Saturday when the superstar Kiwi sprinter added another Moonee Valley feature to her resume.

The Mark Walker-trained five-year-old lived up to her prohibitive quote when she cruised to a 3-1/4-length Manikato Stakes win as $1.40 favourite with online betting sites.

It was her third win at The Valley from as many starts this campaign, following electric 1000m wins in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes and Group 1 Moir Stakes and she now holds the distinction of being reigning champion in the course’s three Group 1 sprints.

Earlier this year the daughter of I Am Invincible won the William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Imperatriz has banked $1,835,000 for the campaign, taking her career earnings to a tick over $3.5m, and Walker said there had been no regrets with the decision to resist the big money of The Everest to stay in Melbourne.

“It is great for the ownership who have been so understanding about not going to Sydney,” Walker said.

“We were thinking about her longevity and it is a big thrill.”

Unlike her earlier wins this campaign, when she rounded up her rivals from the back, Imperatriz led in the Manikato and had the race won soon after straightening and was able to be idled down by champion Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson late in the race.

Imperatriz defeated I Am Me ($6), who worked home from last to finish second, a long-neck clear of Uncommon James ($10), who held off The Inferno ($41) for third.

Bosson said the fact she was able to lead and win so easily was a measure of her quality.

“That wasn’t the plan (to lead), but she was comfortable, she changed legs at the right time, on the turn and in the straight and I thought we were going to be hard to beat,” Bosson said.

“I’ve said it a million times, I’ve never ridden a horse that can just switch off and go back when you want it.”

Imperatriz’s campaign is not yet over with her likely to get the chance to land an eight career Group 1 in the $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 11.