The National Broodmare Sale has a new banner lot after Te Akau Racing confirmed Imperatriz would be sold at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast offering.

The 10-time Group 1 winner will be offered as a supplementary lot in the race fillies and mares section on Day 1 of the three-day sale, which commences on May 28.

Magic Millions, Inglis and New Zealand Bloodstock were all invited to pitch for the opportunity to sell Imperatriz and Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch was honoured to be given the opportunity to showcase the five-year-old.

“It is a huge honour for our company to be able to present Imperatriz as an elite breeding prospect during the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale,” Bowditch said.

“Since selling Imperatriz in 2020 we have proudly watched on and celebrated as she established herself as one of the greatest sprinters in the world.

“It is incredibly rare that a mare of her calibre is offered at public auction and we can’t thank David, Karyn and Imperatriz’s connections enough for entrusting us with her journey to the breeding barn.”

A daughter of champion stallion I Am Invincible, Imperatriz is expected to rival the Australian record broodmare sale price of $5 million, set by Milanova in 2008.

It will be a homecoming of sorts, with Imperatriz having been sold for $360,000 by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She went on to win 19 of 27 starts, including five Group 1 races this campaign, which has her a leading contender for this year’s Australian Champions Racehorse award.

“Imperatriz will go under the hammer where her fairytale career began,” Ellis said.

“I remember when I first inspected her in the Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft. I was instantly taken with her, so in many ways, this is a fitting finale to a stellar career.

“There is no doubt that she is a rare and valuable gem.”

Imperatriz joins Group 1 winners Atishu, Madame Pommery, Chain Of Lightning, Belclare and Ulanova who will be offered on Day 1 of the National Broodmare Sale.