Starcraft Serves Up Latest Karaka Million Leader

The Order of Entry for the 2012 Karaka Million (1200m) (Res.L) - New Zealand's richest race - is beginning to take shape with Saturday's winner Sell in May (NZ) going straight to the top of the leaderboard of two-year-olds eligible for a coveted start in the one million dollar feature.

Trained by John Sadler in Melbourne, Sell in May (NZ) (Starcraft x Savannah Rain) won her debut at Flemington on Saturday in a A$70,000 2YO Maiden over 1000 metres with jockey Stephen Baster aboard, running the last 600 metres in a hot 33.32 seconds.

Bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club and offered by Brent Gillovic's Highview Stud at the Karaka Premier Sale, Sell in May was purchased by the Balmerino Racing Partnership for $100,000. The A$42,700 in stakes earnings from Saturday's win puts Sell in May at the head of the Karaka Million Order of Entry which is based on prizemoney earned.

Sell in May is one of four Australian trained horses currently on the Karaka Million Order of Entry. The $75,000 filly Empress Elect (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor x Trouville) from David Payne's stable has had three starts for two placings including a third on debut at Randwick for A$11,300 in stakes and lies in fourth position.

The Travelling Man (Mossman x Gypsy Jewels) has had one start for Matt Laurie, running fourth at Caulfield in the Listed Debutants Stakes and currently scrapes into the top 10, while the $300,000 Encosta de Lago colt Varanasi (ex Pace Invader) has also made the Order of Entry after running fifth on debut at Randwick in early November.

Currently holding second place and heading the kiwi entries is the $58,000 Festival Sale graduate Silver City (Nothing to Lose x She's Just Dreamy). Trained by Stephen McKee, the colt won his debut at Ruakaka in early September and went on to take the Listed Wellesley Stakes at Trentham at his next start. His stakes earnings currently total $31,750.

Pins' daughter Silk Pins (NZ) (ex Silk Ending) is sitting in third place with $15,400 after just two starts on the track. She won her debut at Ellerslie in the NZB Ready to Run Sale 2YO and followed up with a good second in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes at Pukekohe in mid-November.

With two-year-old stakes races such as the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes, Group 3 Eclipse Stakes and the Listed Wentwood Grange Stakes, plus numerous two-year-old black-type races in Australia yet to be contested, the Order of Entry for the Karaka Million is far from final.

To view the Order of Entry for the 2012 Karaka Million, click here. To view the list of eligible horses for the Karaka Million, click here.

The 2012 Listed Karaka Million (1200m) will be held at Ellerslie Racecourse on January 29 on the eve of the Karaka Premier Sale. For any enquiries including entry into the race, conditions and the Order of Entry, please contact [email protected].