Te Akau’s next move with top-class mare Imperatriz will be locked in after she works on her home track at Matamata on Saturday.
The multiple Group One winner is on target for her first overseas venture, but where she makes her Australian debut has yet to be confirmed.
The Mark Walker-trained Imperatriz will either head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4 or to Melbourne for the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington a week later.
“She will be galloping between races at Matamata and we will be making a decision after that as to what we do,” Te Akau chief David Ellis said.
“She has trained on very well and Mark is really happy with her.”
Imperatriz is unbeaten in three appearances this preparation following a first-up success in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and then claimed the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) before an explosive victory in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
