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Te Akau-raced I Am Invincible filly makes winning debut.

The familiar team of Jamie Richards and Te Akau look to have another exciting two-year-old to go to war with this season, as Imperatriz (2 f I Am Invincible - Berimbau by Shamardal) made a winning debut in the Uzabus & Coaches Stakes (1100m) at Otaki on Thursday. 

The two-year-old filly came into the race off the back of a second place finish in an 800 metre trial at Matamata earlier in the month and she showed maturity beyond her years to beat Mochatini (Your Song) by a head, while Silky Red Fox (Foxwedge) was a further neck away in third. 

The daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) was purchased by David Ellis for $360,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft earlier this year and she is the second foal and first winner out of the winning and Group 2-placed Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) mare Berimbau.

Further back the filly hails from the same family as Group 2 winner Royal Courtship (Royal Academy) and stakes-winning duo Proud Player (Squill) and Poor Judge (Royal Academy). 

Bhima Thoroughbreds will offer a filly by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) out of Berimbau at next year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she is catalogued as Lot 96. The mare has most recently been covered by Vinery Stud-based sire Press Statement (Hinchinbrook).