Toretto (NZ) Tops Karaka Million 2YO Leaderboard

Media Release - Monday December 2

A pair of full-siblings are in line to contest back-to-back runnings of the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) after a stylish win by Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Toretto has moved up the order of entry for Karaka million - Race Images.

Toretto has moved up the order of entry for Karaka million - Race Images.

Toretto is the new leader on the 2025 Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry and is by Ardrossan out of the Pentire mare Pwerfect. That makes him a brother to the stakes-winning Queensland galloper Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan), who finished seventh from a wide draw in the 2024 Karaka Millions 2YO in January.

Toretto was bred by Dewar Partnership and was offered by Lansdowne Park Ltd in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought by Benner Racing for $165,000. The gelding has had three starts for a win and two placings, earning a table-topping total of $29,275.

Runner-up in both of his first two starts behind fellow Karaka Millions contenders To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) and La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), Toretto turned a corner on Saturday and broke through in style in his third career start. Ridden by Ryan Elliot, the gelding quickened stylishly from well off the pace and bounded to the lead in the final 150 metres to win by a length and a quarter.

“We’ve run into Te Akau horses with my two-year-olds all season and keep running second, so to get the win this time was nice,” trainer Hollie Wynyard said. “The goal is to get back here for the Karaka Millions, and going around Ellerslie today is a big asset. With the track being a nice Soft5 today, he should pull up really well and we can carry on from here.

“He has come so much stronger and so much better from his first start, and after his run at Te Rapa, he has put on weight and I just can’t get on top of him.”

Toretto’s performance at Ellerslie made a good impression on Elliot.

“He wasn’t completely screwed down for his second run and he went an enormous race, and today he has put it all together,” he said. “It is good to see him round it off and handle going right-handed. He has come through them today and hit the line late, which is good for a two-year-old.”

There is a full-brother to both Toretto and Beau Dazzler catalogued for Karaka 2025. The Ardrossan colt will be offered by Elsdon Park in Book 1 and is set to go through the ring as Lot 228.

Advertisement

Saturday’s win gives Toretto a narrow lead on the order of entry, with Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega) now second with $28,325. They are followed by Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City) with $27,750, Roc ‘n’ Ready (NZ) (El Roca) with $25,875, Storm Front (NZ) (Snitzel) with $25,875, the Australian-trained Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) with $25,215, and the seventh-placed Landlock (Merchant Navy) with $25,000.

Eighth spot is held by the week’s other big mover, Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo). The colt was a $75,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024 and lifted his earnings to $23,600 with a win at Otaki on Thursday.

Romanoff did a lot wrong when unplaced on debut at Te Rapa earlier in the month, and Thursday brought more of the same. After taking command early in the run home, he veered out dramatically in the straight and almost threw it all away. But he was far enough in front and held on by a length, giving the impression that there could be much better things to come with the benefit of more experience.

“As a young and inexperienced horse, he just has a switch where he randomly surprises you with something that he does,” trainer Pam Gerard said. “He was probably left in front too early in that race and just had the chance to gawk around.

“He has always shown a huge amount of ability. He’s just natural at the moment and we have no extra gear on him, but there are plenty of things we can do help if required.

“We thought the overnight trip away to Otaki might be just what he needs, and now he’s won, so mission accomplished. We’ll just see how he does when he comes home before making any immediate plans, but it helps to get some prize-money if we go towards the Karaka Millions.”

There will be further opportunities to make moves up the order of entry this week, starting with New Plymouth hosting a two-year-old race with a stake of $18,500 on Thursday. Two days later, Trentham’s TAB Classic Day features a 1000-metre two-year-old race worth $65,000.

The TAB Karaka Millions 2YO is part of a stellar six-race twilight meeting at Ellerslie on January 25, which sets the scene for a spectacular week of Karaka 2025 selling action.

Advertisment
More Reading...
WTR Racing in Support of Cambridge RDA charity
Waikato Thoroughbred Racing will continue a proud tradition on the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, with the fifth edition of their annual Cambridge RDA Raceday.
Karaka Graduates Lead Kiwi Charge at Eagle Farm
Kiwi breds were in hot form at Eagle Farm on Saturday landing four of the feature events on a bumper card of racing and leading the way were Karaka graduates War Machine (NZ) and Kovalica (NZ).
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Bjorn Baker already has a ripping All Too Hard filly in the stable in dual Group I winner Stefi Magnetica and he may have another nice one in Horseshoe Hill.
Proisir Maintaining Momentum
Star Rich Hill Stud resident sire Proisir continued his impressive rise from humbler beginnings with further black-type success from a weekend haul of five winners across Australasia.
Ardrossan 2YO Jumps into Karaka Million Contention - Brother for K1
A strong late run carried consistent juvenile Toretto to his maiden victory when he took out the Mondiale VGL (1100m) at Ellerslie.
Starspangled Group Winner Entered for Goffs London Sale
Three year-old Starspangledbanner colt Rafale Design is in hot form this year winning the Group III Longchamp Prix Hoquart (2200m) last month and then at Chantilly on Sunday he added the Group III Prix du Lys Longines (2400m) to his tally.
Amo Racing Purchase Goffs London Top Lot at £2million
The Goffs London Sale was held overnight on the eve of Royal Ascot and while Starspangledbanner colt Rafale Design passed in shy of his £2million reserve, the same figure was paid for the top lot Ghostwriter and Aussie buyers were also active at the sale.
G1 Pedigree Watch – New G1 Stars
The Queensland winter carnival reached a crescendo at Eagle Farm on Saturday with two newly minted Group I winners in War Machine (NZ) and Cool Archie, who had something very interesting in common that may well be a sign of the times and a pointer to the future.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 16
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Graff Fee Confirmed at Kitchwin Hills
Kitchwin Hills announce that promising first season sire Graff, will stand at a retained fee of $9900 inc gst in 2025.