Karaka Million(s) Draw Thoughts ...

The live draws for the $1m Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) and $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) were held on Wednesday morning at Karaka.

The two iconic events take place during a six race twilight programme this Saturday (26 Jan.) at Ellerslie (4.44 p.m. - 7.48 p.m.), with the Karaka Million at 6.33 p.m. and Karaka 3YO Classic at 7.48 p.m. 

Seeking at hat-trick in the Karaka Million after Melody Belle (Commands) combined with rider Opie Bosson to win in 2017 and Avantage (Fastnet Rock), again with Bosson aboard, won last year - both named Champion Two-Year-Old - Te Akau has five runners in the Karaka Million. 

In order of entry, Aotea Lad (Savabeel) drew barrier 12, to be ridden by James McDonald, Yourdeel (Dundeel) 13 for rider Matt Cameron, Louis Luck (Dissident) four for Shafiq Rusof, Challa (Dissident) five for Jonathan Riddell, and Probabeel (Savabeel) drew barrier 16 for Opie Bosson.

After drawing barrier 12 for Aotea Lad, part owner John Elstob said: “We've got James (McDonald) on board, so we'll be counting on him to do something special”.

Cambridge Stud owner Brendan Lindsay MNZM, after his granddaughter (India) drew barrier four for Louis Luck, said: “Jo (Lindsay) and I have been buying horses for twenty years at Karaka. It's the first time we've had a runner (in the KM) and this year we're lucky enough to have two. We know how hard it is to get into a race like this and we just want to have a bit of fun, like everybody else. Hopefully it's us (winning), but if it's not we'd like to wish everyone else the very best.”

Chris Rutten drew out barrier 13 for Yourdeel. “It's my boy's birthday date and his lucky number and everything connected with 13 seems to work for us for some reason,” he said.

After some eeny, meeny, miny, moe, granddaughter India drew barrier 16 (which becomes barrier 14 after scratching time) for Probabeel. “We've got Opie onboard, so he knows how to ride this horse and we're hoping for the best,” said Jo Lindsay. 

At the end of proceedings, Te Akau principal David Ellis was left with barrier five for Challa.

Asked how many horses he could buy at the upcoming Karaka Yearling Sales Series, which begins with a 100-lot Book1 session on Sunday 27 January (3.00 p.m.) and extends through to 3 February, Ellis said: “I never set a tally before the sale. We buy the horses that we like. We set a price and if they meet our budget we buy them”.

“This year I've seen probably the most athletic, sound, horses that I've seen at Karaka for twenty years and there's going to be horses for everybody at all price ranges.”

Regarding the quality of horses, Ellis had said recently: “It really is a reflection of the great growing season we've had in New Zealand. The foals were all weaned on beautiful grass and they've got terrific bone and substance to them”.

Commenting on Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards, Ellis said: “He's quite a remarkable young New Zealander and we work very well together. It's a very happy team. He's got a really good support base in Matamata. A top team that run the stable with him and he's doing a great job for a young man that's still in his twenties, it's quite incredible how he takes it all in his stride. We're really proud of him, for sure”.

Speaking on the Karaka Million, Ellis said: “I think 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.”

Aotea Lad was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $200,000, from the draft of Phoenix Park, at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and owned by the Te Akau Love Life Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Chris Rutten bought Yourdeel out of the Little Avondale draft at Karaka, and chose Te Akau to train the horse.

Louis Luck was bought by Brendan & Jo Lindsay out of the Little Avondale draft at Karaka, and they chose Te Akau to train the horse.

Challa was purchased by David Ellis for $100,000, from the draft of Trelawney Stud, at the Karaka Book 1 Sale in January, and owned by the Te Akau Challa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Probabeel was purchased by David Ellis for $380,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the Karaka Book 1 Sale in January last year, for owners Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay at Cambridge Stud.

_______

The two Te Akau runners in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic: In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) drew barrier three, to be ridden by Shafiq Rusof, and Prise De Fer barrier two for Opie Bosson. 

David Ellis drew the barrier for Prise De Fer. “He's been pretty exciting horse with what he's done and probably six months away from being a really top horse, but he's certainly done everything we've asked of him at his stage. He's a horse we bought from Trelawney Stud and we expect him to be a Cups horse next season. 

Wayne Phillips drew barrier three for In A Twinkling. “He's good and starting to look for further, so hopefully Derby time is his time. But, I think he'll be fine in the race with a good run”. 

Pris De Fer, owned by the Te Akau En Guarde Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), was purchased by David Ellis for $100,000, from the draft of Trelawney Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. 

In A Twinkling, owned by the Te Akau Fastnet Moment Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis), was purchased by David Ellis for $250,000, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. 

Back