Draws No Dent to Enthusiasm

The Informant reports:

Bad luck at Wednesday's barrier draw has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Te Akau Racing team, who will head to Ellerslie on Saturday in search of a third consecutive Karaka Million title.

Having won in the last two years with Melody Belle and Avantage, they will have a five-strong hand in this weekend's $1 million two-year-old race.

“We've got some pretty exciting horses ,but we've drawn barriers 12, 13 and 16, which won't help, that's for sure,” Te Akau Principal David Ellis said.

“But we're in it to win. It's a race that looks to have a lot of speed, so getting back might not be such a bad thing. It's a race where I've seen so many unlucky horses over the years and I don't think the barrier draw matters as much in this race as it sometimes does.

“We've drawn one and two before and been stuck on the fence and had no luck. Opie went down and galloped all our runners last Saturday and he was really happy with them, so we've got our fingers crossed. It's a race you need a lot of luck in.”

This is the second straight Karaka Million in which Te Akau will have five runners, with Avantage and Al Hasa filling the quinella positions last year. Melody Belle was the stable's sole representative in 2017.

“Karaka Million success is a huge help in getting people interested in being involved in the horses we buy at the sales,” Ellis said.

“We're pretty particular about what we buy. We don't buy horses that are only going to make two-year-olds. All our two-year-olds train on. We've had six champion two-year-olds and they've all gone on to be good three and four-year-olds.

“Melody Belle is a classic example. She'll probably have her best year as a five-year-old next season. Avantage is the current champion two-year-old and she's won her only start at three and is coming up really well. We're looking to take her to Australia.

“It's a good incentive now with these races though. A two-year-old can race for $1 million in the Karaka Million and a three-year-old can race for $1 million in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.”

Ellis was upbeat about the upcoming yearling sales, which begin at 3pm on Sunday.

“I don't think it's any secret that from August 1 our stakes money in New Zealand will dramatically improve, so now is a really good time to invest,” he said.

“I expect this sale to be a buyers' market. The quality is as good as I've seen in 20 years. And don't forget, we're just a three-hour flight to Sydney and Melbourne and they are racing for $7, $10 and $15 million and we're buying horses to win those races too.”

Main picture - Group 2 debutante winner Aotea Lad

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