Snitzel Filly Leads Karaka Million Order of Entry

Media Release - Monday October 3

The powerful Te Akau Racing operation has celebrated six consecutive wins in the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), and it is no surprise to see an early tangerine tinge within the first month of qualifying races for the 2023 edition of the $1m race on January 21. 

Rhetorical (NZ) is first up on the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) Order of Entry. Photo: Race Images South.

The order of entry for the Karaka Million 2YO has a new leader after a stylish win by Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) in Saturday’s $15,000 Nobby Bussell Memorial Two-Year-Old (800m) at Riccarton.

The well-bred filly was under a firm hold until well into the home straight, when jockey Joe Kamaruddin turned her loose and she scampered to a clear lead. She was too good for her four rivals, winning by three-quarters of a length.

Plenty of things went wrong for Rhetorical when she made her debut at Wanganui in early September, finishing fifth, but the Mark Walker-trained filly shapes as a rapid improver. Her two starts have now produced a win and $8,700 in stakes, giving her top spot on the Karaka Million order of entry.

“She’s improving all the time and this was a good win,” Walker said. “She’s a filly with nice scope about her, she should keep making good strides, and the further she goes, the better she will get.

“She will have learned a lot from both her runs. She didn’t have a trial before she went to Wanganui, where she got caught wide. And again today (Saturday), she was wide early on before getting into her rhythm.

“The first main aim is the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on the middle day of Cup Week in November.”

Advertisement

Like all of the last six Karaka Million winners, Rhetorical was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at Karaka. The first foal out of Group Two winner and Group One-placed Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing), she was offered by co-breeder Haunui Farm and was bought for $270,000.

“This race at Riccarton was the same race that Avantage (Fastnet Rock) won on debut in 2017, and while those are big shoes to fill, let’s hope this filly goes just as well,” Ellis said.

Another significant mover in the Karaka Million 2YO order of entry this week is Dapper (NZ) (Shooting To Win), who has earned $8,140 after scoring a narrow but impressive win at Otaki on Thursday. Trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard for owner Gary Harding, Dapper was bought for $150,000 from Milan Park’s draft at Karaka 2022.

The next two-year-old races in New Zealand are on October 22, when Te Rapa hosts a $30,000 race over 1000 metres and Riccarton will stage a $30,000 race over 800 metres.

View the full Karaka Million 2YO Order of Entry here.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Group Winning Bivouac Filly Impresses at Trials
Talented filly Intention made an impressive winning return to the Foxton trials on Tuesday, ticking the first box in a journey towards top three-year-old honours.
Spring Stars First Trials Coming Up Tuesday
The Randwick barrier trials on Tuesday morning will give us the first look at some big guns tuning up for the spring racing with seven Group One winners entered, and some rising three year-old big race hopefuls.
Lucky Magic (NZ) Sparkles in Selangor Mile
Karaka graduate Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn) secured a place in Malaysian racing history on Sunday with a triumph in the inaugural RM$1m Selangor Mile (1600m).
Impressive Debut As Tassort Filly Spice Baby Wins By Three
Tackling the older horses on debut is never easy, but the Joseph Ible trained Spice Baby headed to Moruya on Monday, trouncing her opposition to score by three lengths, untouched.
Per Incanto Honoured with Centaine Award
Hall of Fame stallion Savabeel’s nine-year hold on the Centaine Award has been broken by the pride of the Wairarapa, Per Incanto.
Melbourne Possible for Tough Kiwi Stayer
Tough stayer Wolfgang showed enough during a brief Melbourne campaign last spring to warrant a return visit.
Spring G1 Goals for Tuxedo
One of this season’s leading three-year-olds will be restricted to shorter trips in the new term in his transition to the weight-for-age ranks.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Plenty of action at the Randwick trials on Tuesday morning with nine heats won by juveniles and they included a stakes-winning filly and another talented colt and filly with stakes aspirations, plus an unraced colt from a family that was featured in one of our most read stories of last week.
One to Watch Wins Again
When Grunt three year-old Mr Blunt won on debut at Ballarat on the synthetic track by nine lengths earlier this month he was an easy choice as a One to Watch and on Tuesday he repeated the performance to go two for two.
Blue Gum Farm Stallion Parade August 10
The Victorian stallion parade week in August will start with Blue Gum Farm opening the gates on Sunday August 10 for a friendly lunchtime gathering while inspecting the farm’s three stallions – Sejardan, Flying Artie and Oxley Road.