Star 3YOs Draw Side by Side for Karaka Million 3YO Classic

Breednet - Wednesday January 18

All eyes are on the showdown between Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in Saturday’s $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, and the two star three-year-olds are set to jump from neighbouring gates. 

Between them, Legarto and Wild Night go into this match-up as the winners of 10 of their last 11 starts. Legarto’s unbeaten record includes spectacular stakes wins in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). Wild Night was sixth on debut in August but has been unstoppable ever since, with five consecutive wins including the Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).

Legarto and Wild Night are the two horses that everyone will be watching at 7.28pm on Saturday evening, and they have drawn neighbouring gates, with Legarto in one and Wild Night right next to her in two.

But the chances don’t end there in a field that ranks among the deepest and classiest in the history of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

Last year’s Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) has drawn gate three, while last-start Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) winner Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos) is beside him in gate four.

Advertisement

Te Akau Racing 3YO favourite Wild Night (NZ).

Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who ran third in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) before a brilliant victory in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), has drawn gate five.

Khafre (American Pharoah) and Three Ninety (NZ) (Per Incanto) have drawn six and seven, with last-start Eight Carat Classic placegetter Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in gate eight.

New Zealand 2000 Guineas runner-up Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) will jump from gate nine, with multiple stakes placegetters The Intimidator (Toronado) and Channel Surfer (NZ) (Derryn) drawn 10 and 11 respectively.

Completing the star-studded line-up is Group Three winner Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who will jump from the outside gate in a field of 12.

$1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic Quick Facts

  • Barrier 6 has had the most wins for the 3YO, with a success rate of 30.77% and 4 wins.
  • The most expensive horse in the 3YO race is Dynastic who was purchased for $360,000. The cheapest horse in the 3YO race is Sacred Satono who was purchased for $34,000.
  • Kiwi sire Proisir has sired two runners in the 3YO race, Legarto and Prowess.
  • The vendor with the most runners in the 3YO race is Windsor Park Stud with Wild Night, Dynastic and Wessex.
  • O P Bosson has had five Karaka million wins. He had a four year winning streak until 2021, but won again in 2022.
  • International jockeys who have won: Michael Rodd (AUS, 2009), Stathi Katsidis (Aus, 2010), Craig Williams (AUS, 2012 & 2013), Mark du Plessis (Zimbabwe, 2014).
     

The Karaka Million 3YO Classic is the final race on Saturday’s six-race card at Pukekohe, with a start time of 7.28pm.

Click here for the fields and form.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Lindsay Park Love Their Per Incanto's
Ben, Will and JD Hayes know a thing or two about the juvenile progeny of Per Incanto (USA), and they unveiled another exciting son of the Little Avondale Stud stallion in Melbourne’s first two-year-old race of the season on Saturday.
Too Darn Hot’s Shiki Wins G3 Gimcrack Stakes
Winning her heat in good time at the official 2yo trials saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Too Darn Hot filly Shiki jump away the race favourite in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), a race she duly won with a fighting performance.
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).
$1million Stay Inside Colt Wins G3 Breeders Plate
Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper winning sire Stay Inside got the perfect result with his first runner as $1million Magic Millions purchase Incognito scored a determined win in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday in the James Harron Bloodstock colours.
Derby Options Alive For Godolphin’s Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy look to have a smart 3yo on their hands as Impending colt Options wins the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and could now be aimed towards the $2m Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 1.
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
Lonhro Blueblood Colt Wins Listed Dulcify
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who scored his first stakes win at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m).
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.