Final Field for $1m Karaka Million

A full field of 14 plus one emergency has been confirmed for the 10th Karaka Million, to be held at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting Ellerslie on Sunday 29 January.

New Zealand’s equal richest race, the Karaka Million (1200m) is held on the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series commencing at Karaka and consists of graduates from Karaka 2016.

The top qualifier is Gift of Power (NZ) (Power), who impressively won all of her first three starts including the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and Listed Wellesley Stakes. She has earned $107,400 from four starts and will be ridden by Craig Grylls. The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained runner has drawn gate 2. She was purchased by Team Rogerson at the Premier Sale for $180,000 from Cambridge Stud.

Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) handed Gift Of Power her first defeat in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, coming from last with a huge late charge to win by a head. It boosted her earnings to $61,000, propelling her to second on the order of entry. Trained by Stephen McKee, who won last year’s Karaka Million with Xiong Feng, Hasahalo was bought by Go Racing at the Premier Sale for $110,000 from Waikato Stud. Hasahalo will be ridden by Blake Shinn and will jump from barrier 10.

Another McKee-trained runner, and representing some of the same owners as Xiong Feng, is Star Treasure (NZ) (Lonhro). A last-start winner at Ellerslie, he has earned $33,150 from three starts to be the third highest qualifier. He was offered by Monovale Farm at the Premier Sale, where Mr KC Tan bought him for $70,000. He has drawn gate 7.

Next in the order of entry is Padraig (NZ) (Power), who has recorded a win and a placing from two starts for earnings of $19,600. He is trained by Brendon Hawtin, who took over when Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young relocated to Victoria. Busuttin and Young bought him for $90,000 at the Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud. Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Padraig will jump from gate 12.

Felton Road (NZ) (Pins) is unbeaten in two starts, earning $17,900 in prize-money to qualify in fifth place. The Tony Pike-trained runner was bought by Botswana Bloodstock for $20,000 at the Select Sale from the draft of Waikato Stud. Felton Road will be ridden by Leith Innes and has drawn the inside gate.

The first of the Australian raiders is Ameridon (NZ) (All American), trained by Liam Birchley. The Queenslander has won the Karaka Million twice before with Sister Havana (General Nediym) in 2010 and Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing) in 2015. Ameridon has won one of his two starts and will jump from gate 13 for rider Robert Thompson. Offered by Haunui Farm at the Select Sale, Ameridon was bought by Birchley for $140,000.

Haunui Farm stallion Showcasing sired the 2015 winner Hardline (NZ) and last year’s runner-up Showmeyamoneyhoney (NZ). He is the sire of two runners in this year’s field including Princess Rihanna (NZ), who has won one of her two starts and earned $15,650 in prize-money. Craig Williams will ride the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly, who has drawn gate 4. Wexford Stables bought her for $24,000 from the draft of Haunui Farm at the Select Sale.

Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta won the 2011 Karaka Million with Fort Lincoln (Charge Forward) and will be represented this year by Dijon Bleu (NZ). The daughter of Burgundy has had two starts for one win and earnings of $14,250. She will jump from gate 9. Latta paid $26,000 to buy her from Landsdowne Park at the Select Sale.

The second Showcasing runner is Oscar Eight (NZ), who was bought by NZB as agent for $21,000 from the Festival Sale draft of Haunui Farm. The Nigel Tiley-trained runner has yet to win a race but has had two seconds and a fourth from three starts and earned $14,250 in stakes. He has drawn the extreme outside gate of 15.

Commands filly Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) has picked up a win and a placing from three starts, earning $14,075. She is trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, will be ridden by Opie Bosson and has drawn gate 3. She was bought by David Ellis for $57,500 at the Premier Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm.

Waldorf (NZ), by first season sire Highly Recommended), has had three starts for a win and a placing and earnings of $14,075. He is trained by Andrew Campbell for some of the same owners as Padraig. He will jump from gate 5. He was offered by Berkley Stud at the Select Sale, where Campbell bought him for $30,000.

So You Think filly Global Thinking (NZ), trained by Shaune Ritchie, has had one win from three starts for earnings of $13,000. She will jump from gate 8. Offered by Phoenix Park at the Premier Sale, she was bought by KRD Racing for $40,000.

The second Australian visitor is the Peter Robl-trained Te Amo (Not A Single Doubt), who has had a second and a fourth from her two starts. She will be ridden by Jay Ford and has drawn gate 11. Offered by Landsdowne Park at the Premier Sale, she was bought by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds for $220,000.

The Go Racing syndicates will have two runners in this year’s race, with Hasahalo joined by Sophie’s Choice (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The Stephen Marsh-trained filly has finished second and fourth in her two appearances for $6,250. She has drawn gate 14. Go Racing bought her for $40,000 from The Oaks Stud’s draft at the Select Sale.

Just outside the 14 starting spots is Iffragal (NZ) (Iffraaj), who has earned the same amount of money as Sophie’s Choice but missed out when lots were drawn on Monday afternoon. Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, she has had a second and a fifth in her two appearances. If she makes the field, she will jump from gate 6. David Ellis bought her for $200,000 from Lyndhurst Farm at the Premier Sale.

The six-race programme is scheduled to commence at 4.58pm with the first race of the Karaka Million Series, the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup running at 5.33pm as Race 2, followed by the Res. Listed $100,000 NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile at 6.07pm as Race 3 and the  Res. Listed $1m Karaka Million race at 7.16pm as Race 5.

The Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie on the eve of the Karaka 2017 Premier Sale, this Sunday 29 January. A range of hospitality options are available with tickets on sale at www.ellerslie.co.nz.

For information on the enhanced Karaka Million Series, click here.