Tokyo Tycoon Surges to Third on Karaka Million Order of Entry

Media Release - Thursday December 29

With a bold performance at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, unbeaten gelding Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) may have established himself as one of the top seeds for powerhouse stable Te Akau Racing in the $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at the same venue on January 21.

All of the last six Karaka Million 2YO winners have been bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis and trained by the stable’s multiple premiership winner Jamie Richards – Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) and Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor).

Tokyo Tycoon has moved up the list.

With Mark Walker now back at the helm of the all-conquering operation, Te Akau boasts five of the top seven horses on the order of entry for the 2023 Karaka Million as we approach the end of December.

The highest-ranked of those is now Tokyo Tycoon, who was outside the top 10 before Boxing Day but leapfrogged his way to number three with an impressive performance in the $70,000 Pukekohe Traders 2YO (1100m).

Ridden by Opie Bosson, Tokyo Tycoon settled in fifth before stretching out stylishly down the straight for an emphatic victory over stablemate Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard).

Tokyo Tycoon has now won both of his two starts and $48,650 in stakes, which puts him behind only the stakes-winning fillies Impendabelle (Impending) with $95,200 and Ethereal Star (Snitzel) with $57,300. Impendabelle lost her undefeated career record with a third placing behind Tokyo Tycoon on Boxing Day, dropping back from a wide gate and making up good late ground.

Just behind Tokyo Tycoon on the order of entry are four of his Te Akau stablemates – Trobriand (Kermadec) with $36,590, Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) with $34,200, Believe In Magic (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) with $34,040 and Viva Vienna with $31,550.

“Tokyo Tycoon is a really nice, no-fuss sort of horse and he did it fairly comfortably (at Pukekohe on Boxing Day),” Walker said.

“The good draw helped – Opie could find a position without too much effort, and then he put them away nicely when he asked him to go. It looks like 1200 metres will suit him, as he was strong in the closing stages.

“He is definitely one of our main chances for the Karaka Million. Opie will ride Trobriand on Sunday in the Eclipse Stakes (Group Two, 1200m), and he has won two from two so far. If he was to win on Sunday, then Opie will have quite a decision to make as to who he rides in the Karaka Million. But we will leave it up to him – he has pulled the right rein plenty of times in the past.”

Sunday’s Eclipse Stakes is worth $140,000 and could have a significant bearing on the Karaka Million order of entry. It will be followed by a $35,000 race at Pukekohe on January 8, and then the $80,000 Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on January 14.

Advertisement

Stars on Karaka Million 3YO Classic Collision Course

The Boxing Day races at Pukekohe have set the stage for an epic clash in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) on January 21.

Legarto is on track for the Karaka Million.

Sensational filly Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and ever-improving gelding Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) each extended their winning sequence to five in a row with outstanding black-type performances on Monday.

Legarto backed up her five-length romp in last month’s Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) with a remarkable performance in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), launching a phenomenal late run from an almost hopeless position to win with ease. She is now undefeated in five career starts.

Wild Night also asserted his superiority over a highly talented field in the Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), improving his career record to five wins from six starts. Those five wins have come from his last six appearances.

The TAB sees the Karaka Million 3YO Classic as a two-horse race, rating Legarto a $1.60 favourite with Wild Night second at $3. The only other runner in single figures is Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) at $8. Trained by Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley, Sacred Satono won the Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) before being runner-up behind Wild Night in the Uncle Remus.

Another one to watch might be the $10 fourth favourite, Prowess (NZ) (Proisir). A super-impressive winner of her first two starts, the filly placed behind Legarto in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and against the boys in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) before trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood freshened her up.

She warmed up for her return with a bold trial placing on December 23 at Matamata, and she will resume in this weekend’s $140,000 Group Two Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Te Rapa.

“We’ve always believed that she’s pretty smart, but it’s looking like it might be one of the stronger three-year-old years we’ve had in New Zealand in recent seasons,” Wellwood said.

“But after giving her a freshen-up after the 2000 Guineas, we’re hoping she’ll come back that little bit bigger and stronger, so that she can really make her presence felt in some of the big races that are coming up – including the Karaka Million, which we’ve been aiming her towards.”

Advertisment
More Reading...
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.