Top Fillies Cement Place at Top of Karaka Million Leader Board

Top fillies Gift of Power (NZ) (Power) and Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) filled the quinella in a Group race for the second time this season when they clashed in the $70,000 Group 3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie this week, further cementing their place at the top of the order of entry for the Karaka Million (1200m) on January 29.

Gift of Power won the first clash between the high-class pair, edging out the fast-finishing Hasahalo in a tight finish to last month’s Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham. The Eclipse Stakes produced another nail-biting finish, and this time Hasahalo’s late charge was successful as she scored by a head.

Despite the first defeat of her four-start career, Gift of Power maintains a strong lead in the Karaka Million order of entry with prize-money of $110,525. Hasahalo is a clear second with $62,000, which places her almost $30,000 clear of her stablemate Star Treasure (NZ) (Lonhro).

The third placegetter in the Eclipse Stakes was Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel), who is not eligible for the Karaka Million, so there was no other movement on the order of entry.

The top 14 is currently rounded out by Talaria (NZ) (O’Reilly), Princess Rihanna (NZ) (Showcasing), Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy), Oscar Eight (NZ) (Showcasing), Gilhoolie (NZ) (Guillotine), Waldorf (NZ) (Highly Recommended), Global Thinking (So You Think) and the Australian-trained runners Sharp Diamond (NZ) (Showcasing), Unlikely Story (Star Witness) and Te Amo (Not A Single Doubt).

The next chance for two-year-olds to force their way into the Karaka Million field will be on January 14, when a $30,000 race is contested at Trentham and a $20,000 race is held at Ellerslie.