Winning Journey to the Karaka Million 2YO and 3YO Classic

Media Release - Friday October 13

The race to the richest meeting on the calendar has begun with a number of talented youngsters vying for a coveted start.

2018 is set to showcase the enhanced Series with the $1,000,000 Karaka Million 3YO Classic a new addition to the $1,000,000 Karaka Million 2YO. The two $1 million feature events will include a sensational support card of four Group races to be run at the Auckland Racing Club.

$1m Karaka Million 2YO

This will be the 11th edition for the hotly contested 2YO purse on the eve of New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka.

AvantageWith the two-year-old order of entry determined by prizemoney won, bothAvantage(Fastnet Rock) andMasque(NZ) (Savabeel) have made an early dash sitting equal on the leader board with earnings of $14,060.

Avantage was purchased by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis for $210,000 from the draft of The Oaks Stud at the 2017 Premier Yearling Sale and is now owned by the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate.

Trained by the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards duo, the Fastnet Rock filly earned $14,060 for her stylish debut win in the 2YO Stakes at Canterbury on 7 October.

Avantage has now been sent south to the Te Akau training base at Riccarton in preparation for the Listed Welcome Stakes next week.

"She has gone down there for a couple of races leading into the Welcome Stakes and we thought it was a great way of qualifying her for the Karaka Million," Ellis said.

"She's just got so much improvement in her, this filly, it's remarkable."

Smart juvenile Masque also made an impression on debut when he won the 2YO Handicap at Pukekohe on 24 September collecting $14,060 in prizemoney.

Offered at the 2017 Premier Yearling Sale on account of Waikato Stud, the colt was purchased by Team Rogerson for $200,000. He is now trained by Graham Rogerson who co-owns him with David and Elizabeth Olsen, Redbank Pty Ltd and Wealleans Bloodstock Partnership.

"He had trialled enormously and we think he is the next Savabeel,"Rogerson commented.

"We will probably go to the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham and then on to the Karaka Million after that."

Advertisement

View the full 2018 Karaka Million 2YO Order of Entry here.

$1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic

The three-year-old order of entry for the inaugural running of the new $1m 3YO Classic is determined by NZTR ratings, and 2017 Karaka Million 2YO winnerMelody Belle(NZ) (Commands) is sitting nicely at the top.

With four wins in the 2016-17 season, the Commands filly backed up her Karaka Million 2YO win with a victory in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, followed by the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes for three consecutive wins.

Her performance earned her the respected title of Champion 2YO in NZ, and she currently holds a Rating of 85.

Melody Belle was purchased by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis for $57,500 from Haunui Farm's 2016 Premier Yearling Sale draft. Syndicated out to the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, she is trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards and has earned $826,220 in prizemoney to date.

"We originally purchased her with the expectation that she was the type of horse that would be competitive in the Karaka Million," commented John Galvin who manages the Fortuna syndicates.

"And she went on to win the Karaka Million. She kicked on to win the Group 1 down in Manawatu and then went over to win the Group 2 in Brisbane which is never easy for New Zealand two-year-olds."

With preparation for Melody Belle's three-year-old campaign, John commented "I don't think there are any trainers, owners, and syndicators out there that don't think it's a hell of a good idea to aim for both the Karaka Million age-group titles."

Sully(NZ) (Reliable Man) is currently second on the leader board with a Rating of 80, and trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

Timely updates were given toDijon Bleu(NZ) (Burgundy) andHard Merchandize(NZ) (Burgundy) when they respectively won the Group 3 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes on 23 September and Group 2 Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas on 7 October. They are now sitting third equal on a Rating of 77.

View the full 2018 Karaka Million 3YO Order of Entry here.

Advertisment
More Reading...
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.