Million Dollar Dreams in Tangerine
24 January, 2025
The countdown to the TAB Karaka Millions is well and truly on, and we’re in for a blockbuster black type evening tomorrow - every race on the card is at Group/Listed level at Ellerslie!
Our TAB Karaka Millions’ contenders are primed and ready, and, the spotlight is also set to shine on an action-packed lineup that also features the likes of Captured By Love, on a path to further Group 1 glory in the Sistema Railway; What You Wish For, chasing the $1,000,000 Listed Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic prize; Skew Wiff, eyeing the Group 2 Westbury Classic, and Move To Strike, who kicks off the night in the Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy.
With all our runners ready to fire, it’s shaping up to be an unmissable night of racing. Buckle up - this is one show you won’t want to miss! Following on from our Millions runners please enjoy our Black Type runners this weekend in the video.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s ahead this weekend:
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM established a phenomenal record purchasing seven consecutive winners in the $1 million Karaka 2YO Million 2YO and Te Akau Racing again has worthy representatives in the event, on the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series (26 Jan. – 3 Feb.) at Karaka.
The race was shared around from the inaugural event in 2008, until Te Akau took a stranglehold from 2017 – 2023.
Subsequent dual Horse of the Year and national record-holder of 14 Group One wins, Melody Belle (Commands) scored in 2017, ahead of being named Champion Two-Year-Old.
Champion Two-Year-Old, and eventual nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) won in 2018.
Quadruple Australian Group One winner and dual Horse of the Year Probabeel (Savabeel) won in 2019, and created an historical double when winning the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) the year following - the only horse to have ever achieved the rare double.
Another Champion Two-Year-Old, Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), now standing at stud in Australia, won in 2020.
On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau), a subsequent Group One winner, brought the house down in 2021.
Dynastic (Almanzor) let down to score impressively in 2022.
And Champion Two-Year-Old Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin) was breathtaking in 2023, coming from last to win in a blaze of glory.
All seven were purchased by Ellis at Karaka - eligibility for the Karaka Millions is acquired through registration and prize money then determines who makes the field (Order of Entry).
Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson currently have four contenders in Order of Entry for the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m):
Karaka Million 2YO “tale of the tape”:
- La Dorada (2f Super Seth – Gold Fever, by Savabeel) overcame a tough run to record a dominant debut victory in the 2YO 1100 metres in November at Te Rapa, before finishing second in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes over 1200m on 1 January at Ellerslie. She showed tenacious ability winning first-up and franked the form with a good effort for second next time presented. Owned by the Te Akau Solid Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $190,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2024 Karaka Book 1 Sale.
- To Bravery Born (2c Snitzel – Milunka, by All Too Hard) won the first two-year-old race of the season with a good turn of foot over 800 metres in August at Wanganui, and quickly ascended on the outside of runners to handsomely win the 2YO 1200 metres on 12 January at Ellerslie. Owned by the Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale.
- Belle Du Monde (2f Zoustar – Lady Cartier, by Fastnet Rock) has finished second in her two starts at Ellerslie. From a classy family of stakes’ winners, she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $400,000, from the draft of Kaha Nui Farm, at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, and is owned by Te Akau Love de Cartier Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).
- Dare To Proisir (2 g Proisir – Hayle Bay) finished third on debut and ran a top race when coming from back in the field with a strong finish to miss second by a whisker in the 2YO 1200 metres on 12 January at Ellerslie, won by To Bravery Born (above). Owned by the Te Akau Proisir Perfection Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $230,000, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud, at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale. At present, he is ballot one.
Te Akau Karaka Million 2YO winners:
2017: From barrier three with blinkers on, Melody Belle was out fast before steadying for cover in fourth passing the 900m and once clear, she pounced on the leaders 250m out, quickly asserted a two-length advantage and never looked like being beaten. It was a terrific ride by Opie Bosson and an even better effort by the filly, who really did win well.
2018: Avantage was race favourite for the big dance and proved too good. Catching the start beautifully to situate fourth for Opie Bosson, Avantage was clear to challenge on straightening, wound into her work and charged home to score. Stable-mate Al Hasa (Exceed and Excel) finished second.
2019: ‘She absolutely killed them, Probabeel’. Take nothing away from stable-mates Melody Belle and Avantage, who won the two previous editions, but Probabeel could have surpassed them in completing a hat-trick. Flawless in her preliminary, the superiority of Probabeel, after drawing the outside gate (14), to leave her rivals cold with a devastating finish was something to behold – winning by two and three-quarter lengths under Opie Bosson. Stable-mates Aotea Lad (Savabeel) finished second and Yourdeel (Dundeel) dead-heated for third.
2020: Timing is everything and Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards got it dead-right when winning his fourth consecutive $1 million Karaka 2YO Million with Cool Aza Beel. Away well before steadying to fourth, he ranged three-wide rounding the home turn, sprinted to lead 300m and was far too strong when getting clear. Victory gave Opie Bosson a place in history and emulated NZ jockey Shane Dye who famously rode four consecutive Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes’ winners from 1989- 92.
2021: With success comes expectation, and Te Akau Racing duly delivered again when On the Bubbles became its fifth successive winner. Rider Johnathan Parkes negated a wide draw (14) to slot in fourth at the 800m, and had On the Bubbles poised approaching the home turn. After reaching the lead a furlong out, he drew clear to win by one and three-quarter lengths, with stable-mates Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) in second, Avonallo (Belardo) in third, and Sophisticardo (Burgundy) in fourth place - a stable first-four!
2022: It was yet another cracker from Opie Bosson, winning his fifth Karaka Million 2YO aboard Dynastic, following Melody Belle (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (Savabeel), and Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel). Never overawed by occasion, Bosson was midfield inner before extracting Dynastic on straightening at the 400m and the imposing colt let down impressively, while providing the first Southern Hemisphere victory for Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett). Stable-mates Fellini (Belardo) finished third and Time Flies (Time Test) was fourth.
2023: Tokyo Tycoon had arguably provided the most impressive two-year-old win of the season when drawing clear for victory in the 2YO 1100 metres on Boxing Day, and despite drawing barrier 13 of 14, he franked the performance of former stable star, dual Horse of the Year, and historic Karaka Million double winner Probabeel, when she killed them from the outside gate. It was a calculated and brilliant ride by the former South African Champion Apprentice Craig Zackey and an equine feat of the highest order. Stable-mate Trobriand (Kermadec) worked home strongly for third.
Also at Saturday’s Ellerslie meeting, Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson have:
- Group One winning colt Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) resuming in the $250,000 Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy over 1200m. Owned by the Te Akau 2023 Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Move To Strike was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$525,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud, at 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
- What You Wish For (Embellish) contests the $1 million Listed Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Owned by the Te Akau Wish & Win Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), What You Wish For was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.
- Group One winner Skew Wiff (Savabeel), who also won a Group Two on Melbourne Cup Day last season at Flemington, contests the $600,000 Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m). Skew Wiff was bred and is owned by Waikato Stud.
- Damask Rose (Savabeel), who finished runner-up in the $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) last year, after coming off the ballot, contests the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m). Damask Rose was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $200,000, from the draft of Milan Park, at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and is owned by Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Damask Rose is also set to shine as our Slot choice for the The NZB Kiwi.
- To complete the evening, Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) resumes in the $700,000 Group 1 Sistema Railway over 1200m.
Owned by the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Captured By Love was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Milburn Creek. She has won five of her 10 starts and prize money to date exceeding $700,000.
It’s going to be a day for the ages. Best of luck to all our runners, owners and connections - thank you all for your support! BRING IT ON!
