Karaka Cup Paves Way to Group One Success
6 December 2019
The two million dollar features aren’t the only showstopper taking place during New Zealand’s most lucrative race meeting. Run over 2200m, NZB graduates are also eligible to compete in the $100,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup, highlighting some of the best staying talent New Zealand has to offer and paving the path to races such as the Group One Auckland Cup.
Formerly named the Karaka Stayers Cup, the feature is run at Ellerslie on the eve of the National Yearling Sale Series alongside the two $1million dollar showcases – The Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
All Karaka Million nominated horses are eligible to compete in the Karaka Cup throughout the entirety of their racing career. Winners and placegetters in this race have continued on the path to race track stardom, with the Cup often being a successful lead up to Group One success. Many graduates have had subsequent wins and placings in the Group One Auckland Cup (3200m), Group One Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Group One Sydney Cup (3200m).
2017 Karaka Cup victor Chenille (NZ) (Pentire) went on to claim another throne, winning the 2017 Group One Auckland Cup (3200m), while just the year before Karaka Cup winner Rose of Virginia (NZ) (Thorn Park) went on to run second in the 2016 edition of the Auckland Cup.
Having placed third in the 2018 Karaka Cup, Charles Road (Myboycharlie) went on to achieve great things, winning the 2018 Group Three City of Auckland Cup (2400m). He also placed third in the 2018 Group One Sydney Cup (3200m), 2018 Group Three Bendigo Cup (2400m) and most recently the 2019 Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m).
All three of the 2019 Karaka Cup placegetters have gone on to place in Group races. Winner Five to Midnight (NZ) (Domesday), ran third in the 2019 Group Two Avondale Cup (2400m) and also placed in the 2019 Group One Auckland Cup (3200m).
Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral) who was runner-up in the 2019 edition went on to run third in the most recent Group One Windsor Park Plate (1600m), while the third runner, Sacred Day (NZ) (Azamour) won the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) and placed third in this year’s Group Two Couplands Bakeries Mile (1600m).
All horses that are nominated in the Karaka Million Series are eligible for the 2020 edition of the Karaka Cup and for the duration of their career.
A full list of eligible horses is available on our website.