Race Result:

1st: Imperatriz (Opie Bosson/Mark Walker) - $3.60F
2nd: Bella Nipotina (Ben Melham/Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace) - $8.50
3rd: Roch 'N' Horse (Jamie Mott/Mike Moroney) - $26

Winning Time: 1:10.55   Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 1L x 1-1/4L

"The Kiwi & Opie!"

It's a New Zealand-flavoured William Reid pic.twitter.com/b74gmJx7U2

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 24, 2023

 

Winning Trainer: Mark Walker

On winning his first Melbourne Group 1: "We've been a bit unlucky in Group 1s, especially in Melbourne over the years, so it was great to get that win tonight.

" I was away for quite a while, I was 11 years in Singapore, but to come back so soon and do it was very satisfying.

"My son Xavier is here tonight as well, so that's even better."

On the mare and the race: "She's just been trouble-free this preparation and it was a fantastic ride of Opie's as well and he just timed it perfectly.

"We had to make quite a long, sustained run, so full credit to the mare, she's a beauty."

What next for Imperatriz: "We'll just get her home to Te Akau Stud and get some of that good New Zealand grass into her and give her a break."

Winning Jockey: Opie Bosson

On winning a Group 1 at The Valley: "I think it's only my second winner here at The Valley. I was a little bit nervous going out there, but she did it all for me, she's a wonderful mare.

"She's just got an amazing turn of foot. She can get herself out of trouble and she can run out a strong 1400, so 1200 wasn't going to be too much of a problem."

How the race panned out: "There was a lot of pressure, I got back probably a couple of spots further than I wanted to but I ended up getting a nice drag into the race and she done the rest really.

On when Bella Nipotina loomed as a challenger: "I sensed her, I gave her a couple behind the saddle and those ears springed back and she gave again because she does tend to like it a little bit when she gets in front by herself but when she heard that other horse coming she gave it another crack."

On being Te Akau Racing's No 1 rider: "It's amazing. The whole team at Te Akau…it's just a privilege to ride these horses. David Ellis buys so many amazing horses I get to sit on and I've got the dream job in New Zealand."

Beaten Jockeys:

Jye McNeil (Masked Crusader): "Visors sharpened him up. He was in a good position today but unfortunately he copped some interference up the home straight."

John Allen (King Of Sparta): "Ran well. Probably prefer a firmer deck."

Mark Zahra (A Case Of You): "Ran well (for) first start in Australia."

Tim Clark (In The Congo): "He was disappointing."

Patrick Moloney (Front Page): "Just probably outclassed tonight."

Daniel Moor (Jigsaw): "There's nowhere to hide in Group 1's. His form had been terrific leading up to this but we had a lot of pressure and we weren't able to get a rest. My only other option was to be three deep. He's been brave and he tried hard, but tonight wasn't his night.

Ben Melham (Bella Nipotina): "Good run. She probably needs wet ground, but she's going to win another Group 1."

Jamie Mott (Roch 'N' Horse): "Really happy with Roch 'N' Horse tonight. She's back to near her best and it was a super effort."

Nash Rawiller (September Run): <No comment provided>

Luke Nolen (Chain Of Lightning): "Just got knocked arse over head."

Blake Shinn (Babylon Berlin): "Had a reasonable run. Just didn't finish off."