Big River the Big Karaka Million Leader

Big River's win in the first two-year-old stakes race of the season, the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), has seen him regain the leader's jersey in the early stages of the 2010 Karaka Million order of entry.

His total prize-money earnings of $29,875 sees Big River (General Nediym x Zoilus, by Maroof) clearly on top of standings with second-placed Aladdin Prince (Volksraad) sitting on $8,000 in prize-money.

Based on the previous two years where a minimum of $9,650 earned a start in the $1,000,000 race, the colt, now the winner of two from two, is guaranteed a place in the Karaka Million (1200m) set for Ellerslie on 31 January.

Trained by Mark Walker, Big River sports the colours of champion Singapore trainer Laurie Laxon on race-day.

Laxon purchased the colt for himself and successful Singapore owner, Mave Yeo, at the Karaka Premier Sale for $150,000 from Whakanui Stud. Like Champion Singapore 2YO Mexican Rose (Stravinsky), Big River is expected to race in Singapore post the Karaka Million.

Big River's now deceased Group 1 sire General Nediym is represented by two geldings (Lot 103 and 179) at the upcoming Karaka Ready to Run Sale.

Wins over the past week by Lance Noble's Sirrio (Captain Rio x Lacy Tops, by Clay Hero) at Ellerslie and Eamonn Green's Patsy O'Reilly (O'Reilly x It's My Time, by Marscay) at Pukekohe have seen them jump into the Top 10 in the current order of entry, with Listed Wellesley Stakes third-place-getter Botafogo (Keeninsky x Oregon Express, by Oregon) splitting the pair in fifth position.

Australian trainer Liam Birchley, who ran second in the last year's Karaka Million with Sarge in Charge (Golan), has shown his interest in the race again this year with his filly Sister Havana (General Nediym x Ultima Vita, by Canny Lad).

The $40,000 Select Sale purchase from Shelby Park won a trial before racing in the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes on debut where she finished a close-up seventh and earned a spot in the current Karaka Million Order of Entry Top 10 with A$1,500.

Click here for the current 2010 Karaka Million Order of Entry.

The following lots in the 2009 Karaka Ready to Run Sale are Karaka Million eligible:

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