Superb Field for Karaka Million 3YO Classic

24 January 2019

2018 Karaka Million 3YO Classic winner Scott Base.
2018 Karaka Million 3YO Classic winner Scott Base (NZ).

The Karaka Million 3YO Classic is a race with growing importance on the New Zealand calendar, as illustrated by an outstanding field assembled for the 2019 edition at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The 1600-metre race, which this year will be run for a $1m stake for the second time, features two Group 1 winners, three Group 2 winners and four other black-type winners.

The headline act is Madison County (NZ) (Pins), who cost just $36,000 at the Select Sale. He has earned more than $530,000 for the China Horse Club, headed by Group 1 victories in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Levin Classic (1600m) in his last two starts.

The $425,000 Premier Sale purchase Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) leads the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, courtesy of a high-class victory in the Group 1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) is a last start winner of the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1600m), while Pinmedown (NZ) (Pins) and Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax) won the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Royal Stakes (2000m) respectively.

Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) was a Listed winner at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, then ran second to Madison County in the Levin Classic.

Sir Nate (NZ) (Nadeem) was a Listed winner last season and placed in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, and he added another placing in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) was one of the standout lots at the 2017 Premier Sale, selling for $750,000. He has won three races in Australia for trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, two of those at stakes level, and returns to these shores to make his New Zealand debut on Saturday.

The well-related filly Queen of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) was another high-priced yearling, fetching $640,000 at the 2017 Premier Sale. She has won two races including the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m), and she was third in the Eight Carat Classic.

The Karaka Million 3YO Classic will be run as the final race on Saturday’s programme, Race 6, with a start time of 7.48pm.

# HORSE DRAW BREEDING TRAINER SALE PRICE VENDOR PURCHASER TOTAL STAKES
1 Madison County 7 3 g Pins - Red Delicious Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman K2 $36,000 Waikato Stud China Horse Club $530,935
2 Hypnos 6 3 g Reliable Man - Quality Dream Roger James & Robert Wellwood K2 $50,000 Westbury Stud Mr RA James $88,150
3 Sir Nate 12 3 c Nadeem - Just Diamonds Lisa Latta K2 $65,000 Little Avondale Stud Lisa Latta Racing $162,875
4 Surely Sacred 4 3 g Rock 'N' Pop - Not Sure Tony Pike K1 $160,000 Waikato Stud Raffles Racing $79,900
5 Long Leaf 11 3 c Fastnet Rock - Frustrating David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig K1 $750,000 Curraghmore BBA Ireland A$402,550
6 In A Twinkling 3 3 g Fastnet Rock - Moment In Time Jamie Richards K1 $250,000 Curraghmore Mr DC Ellis $47,475
7 Langkawi 15 3 g Helmet - Shortblackmini Peter McKay K1 $55,000 Seaton Park Mr PN & Mrs K McKay $54,840
8 Swords Drawn 8 3 c Camelot - Sarvon Shaune Ritchie K1 $140,000 Cambridge Stud Mr SF Ritchie $25,725
9 Prise De Fer 2 3 g Savabeel - Foiled Jamie Richards K1 $100,000 Trelawney Stud Mr DC Ellis $13,125
10 Prince Albert 1 3 c Savabeel - Lady Alberton Stephen Marsh K1 $130,000 Mapperley Stud Go Racing $9,100
11 Super Gee 5 3 g Super Easy - Arctic Heights Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley K3 $10,000 Haunui Farm Logan Racing Stables $32,000
12 Red Dynamo 17 3 g Ekraar - Diva In Red Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley K3 $10,000 Carter Bloodstock Ltd NZB as agent $6,250
13 Media Sensation 18 3 f I Am Invincible - Different To Peter & Dawn Williams K1 $425,000 Lime Country Thoroughbreds Mr GC Beemsterboer $248,875
14 Pinmedown 14 3 f Pins - Alleyway Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard K2 $28,000 Ardsley Stud Paul Moroney Bloodstock $67,750
15 Imelda Mary 16 3 f Ferlax - Eleesha Wayne Hillis K3 $3,500 Haunui Farm Mr WP & Mrs VD Hillis $91,350
16 Queen Of Diamonds 10 3 f Savabeel - Love Diamonds Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman K1 $640,000 Cambridge Stud China Horse Club $58,675
17 Miss Labasa 9 3 f Swiss Ace - Savoia John Bary K2 $30,000 Wentwood Grange N & P Balia Family Trust $28,125
18 The Real Beel 13 3 f Savabeel - Ahna Jim Pender K1 $110,000 Waikato Stud Mr DC Ellis $32,950