Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Smashing the Australian broodmare sales record previously held by Milanova (Danehill {USA}) who at Inglis Easter in 2008 fetched $5 million to the bid of Coolmore Stud, Imperatriz had all the big names after her - those watching on enjoying the tension as the bidding opened at $4 million and steadily increased.
It was an emotional affair for the connections, representing the end of an era for their time with the exceptional race mare.
Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis were unsurprisingly thrilled with the result, happy to see their prized mare remain in Australia and delighted to offer her in the same ring in which she was offered as a yearling four years ago for $360,000.
There has been plenty of water under the bridge since then, Imperatriz winning 19 of her 27 starts in New Zealand and Australia, earning plenty of fans.
David Ellis | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
David Ellis told The Thoroughbred Report that a dozen different interested parties visited Imperatriz in New Zealand in the lead-up to the sale and he was “very proud” to have sold a record breaker.
“It is a great thrill for us, for her owners, for Mark Walker and for all the staff who have looked after her in New Zealand and Australia.”
Imperatriz watches on
One of the Te Akau team members was in the paddock with Imperatriz as the sale took place; holding her laptop screen up to her so the champ herself could be part of the exciting process.
“We had a photo taken,” Karyn Fenton-Ellis said, “which was lovely.”
Karyn admitted to mixed emotions throughout the day - “pride, exhilaration and anticipation,” she said - and then, a degree of melancholy.
“I loved her from the minute she got home, she always had that presence about her,” she said.
“I loved her (Imperatriz) from the minute she got home, she always had that presence about her.” - Karyn Fenton-Ellis
“So the pride is mixed with a massive dose of sadness. We will follow her with great interest but the next chapter of her life is going to be without us.”
Magic Millions’ Barry Bowditch was delighted with how a sale without the star of the show being present went - “the team did such a good job and created such an exciting atmosphere that you would hardly notice that she wasn’t there!’ he joked.
Bowditch described the sale as a “fulfilling” experience, satisfied that the hard work that went into pitching the sale to Imperatriz’s owners paid off.
Barry Bowditch
“There was a bit of pressure involved,” he admitted “and sharing the journey with the ownership group was important. We wanted them to get a nice surprise with the result and judging by the emotions showed they got that.”
