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...
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Navy King sails to Valley victory
A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.