A live barrier draw at Karaka's iconic Sales Centre has confirmed the final fields for Saturday's $1 million Karaka Million 2YO and $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie.
Second on the order of entry was exactly that in the barrier draw when purchaser Bryce Tankard of Waikato Bloodstock drew barrier two for one of the early favourites in the Karaka Million 2YO,Whiskey Neat(Denman).
In a mixed bag for the early favourites of the race, owner Jo Lindsay, with her granddaughter, pulled barrier 16 for Probabeel(NZ) (Savabeel) which will become barrier 14 after the scratchings.
Australian visitor Neptune's Spear(NZ) (Super Easy) landed barrier 11 for Queensland trainer Liam Birchley and could give him his third Karaka Million 2YO winner having won the title in 2010 and 2015.
David Ellis of Te Akau Racing, winners of the last two Karaka Million 2YO features, landed barrier five for Challa(Dissident) and fared well again in the draw for the Karaka Million 3YO when pulling barrier two for Prise de Fer(NZ) (Savabeel).
It was a similar story in the draw for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic field with the highest-rated three-year-olds Madison County(NZ) (Pins) and Media Sensation(I Am Invincible). China Horse Club's Michael Smith drew barrier seven for Madison County while co-owner Sarah Green landed on the outside with barrier 18 for Media Sensation.
The only Australian raider in the three-year-old field has come from the stables of David Hayes who drew mid-field to land barrier 11 for the Group Two performerLong Leaf(Fastnet Rock). Expat champion kiwi jockey James McDonald will take the ride on Long Leaf while also aboardAotea Lad(NZ) (Savabeel) in the million dollar two-year-old race.
Tommy Berry will also cross the Tasman to take the rides on Appellant(NZ) (Showcasing) from barrier nine in the Karaka Million 2YO andQueen of Diamonds(NZ) (Savabeel) from barrier 10 in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
Australian jockey Winona Costin will also be over for the two-year-old race jumping from barrier six aboardBeauty Diva(NZ) (Showcasing).
O'Charm(NZ) (Charm Spirit) andDawn Patrol(NZ) (Dawn Approach) were both nominated for the Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO Classic respectively, however, have both withdrawn.
To see the full field and barriers for the Karaka Million 2YOclick here.
To see the full field and barriers for the Karaka Million 3YO Classicclick here.
KARAKA 2019 SCHEDULE:
Karaka Million Twilight Meeting: Saturday 26 January
Karaka Million 2YO: Race 4 – 6.33pm
Karaka Million 3YO Classic: Race 6 – 7.48pm
National Yearling Sales Series
Book 1: Sunday 27 – Wednesday 30 January
