Te Akau Racing collected top honours at the 2024 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday evening, which was headlined by Imperatriz, who was named Horse of the Year, while the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson partnership were Trainer of the Year.
Imperatriz was recognised for a formidable season in Victoria with Champion Sprinter-Miler, SENZ New Zealand Horse of the Year and Outstanding Global Achievement all going the way of the superstar mare.

The daughter of I Am Invincible was formidable in what turned out to be her final season on the racetrack, winning the Gr.2 McEwan Stakes (1000m) fresh-up before an incredible run of Group One successes, including the Moir Stakes (1000m), Manikato Stakes (1200m), Champions Sprint (1200m) and Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).

Imperatriz’s final Group One victory was a back-to-back success in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at her beloved Moonee Valley in March, and after finishing fourth in the Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m), she was subsequently retired and sold for A$6.6 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Yulong.