Lucky Vega 2YO Draws Well Karaka Million

Media Release - Wednesday January 22

It was luck by name and luck by nature for Ben and Ryan Foote at the barrier draw for Saturday’s $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie.

The father-and-son training partnership will prepare Vega For Luck for the lucrative juvenile contest, the son of Lucky Vega drawing gate three, outside of Toretto and race-favourite To Bravery Born.

Vega For Luck will take his place in Saturday's $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Vega For Luck was a winner on debut in early October, with three subsequent runs including a third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) and fifth in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) on New Year’s Day.

“It makes you feel like you’ve got a lot more of a chance, when his name was called out early I was pretty happy,” Ben Foote said.

“He’s a really good doing two-year-old, he’s had a lot of runs and gallops around Ellerslie, so we think we’re in with a chance. He’s probably not the best horse in the race, but if he puts himself in it from a good barrier, he can be in it for sure.

“You’d have to (push forward), it would just be too hard for him to get too far back.”

Advertisement

The Foote’s stable star Babylon Berlin has also received a royal opportunity in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) later in the evening, the mare set to jump from barrier two.

Babylon Berlin has contested the Railway on three occasions, finishing third behind Entriviere and second to phenomenal sprinter Imperatriz, before an uncharacteristic seventh in last year’s running, held at Pukekohe.

At her fourth attempt, Babylon Berlin is currently rated an $8 equal-third favourite after a winning performance in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) and ahead of Saturday’s $700,000 feature, Foote couldn’t be happier with his charge.

“She’s flying, everything seems tip-top and drawing barrier two is really good, it’s nice to be going to Karaka Millions Night with two good barriers and two good chances,” he said.

“She’ll definitely push forward, she loves the fight and loves being taken on, so good luck to anything that wants to take her on.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
El Vencedor Crowned NZ Horse of the Year
Rich Hill Stud’s standing as a centre of thoroughbred excellence has been further emphasised with El Vencedor named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Cracks $1million in Prizemoney
Karaka graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) became a millionaire and a dual Group One winner with a stunning last-to-first performance in the $400,000 Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleashed another.
Birdsville Kicks Off with Record Fields on Friday
The 143rd Birdsville Races roared to life today with a burst of trackside colour and red desert dust, as a record crowd of punters converged on the edge of Queensland’s Simpson Desert for the iconic two-day meet.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G3 in South Korea
Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 5
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.