More Good News

It is a race that Te Akau has featured prominently in since its inception - the NZB Karaka 3YO Mile that is staged on Karaka Million night.

In the six years since its inception, Te Akau horses have twice won the event - Rock 'n' Pop and Spellbinder - and finished runner up three times - Icepin, Single Act and Rockfast.  That's quite some record.

To be eligible, horses must have been purchased through NZB's National Yearling Sale and be nominated for the Karaka Million, which in turns deems them eligible for the Karaka Mile, and each year after, the $100,000 Stayers' Cup.  

You can be sure we will have our eye on this prize!

Previously with a stake of $100,000 - this will increase to $250,000 for the 2016 running and stand by - New Zealand Bloodstock has just announced it too will join the Karaka Million as New Zealand's richest race from 2018 - here are the details: 

New Zealand Bloodstock has announced a stakes boost for the Karaka 3YO Mile, which from 2018 will be the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

Yearlings on offer at Karaka 2016 will now be eligible to enter to compete for the $1 million two-year-old event in 2017, the new $1 million three-year-old event in 2018, plus the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers' Cup each year thereafter, for a single entry fee of $2,500 plus GST.

“It has always been New Zealand Bloodstock's ambition to find a way to celebrate and support our three-year-olds through the series and we're so excited that we are able to offer this opportunity to buyers at Karaka,” said New Zealand Bloodstock co-managing director Petrea Vela.

“This new million-dollar race will suit those horses that excel over 1400 metres to 1600 metres, whilst also acting as a springboard into the Guineas races and the Derby. It's with enormous thanks to the Auckland Racing Club and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing that we have been able to collaborate to get it in place for January 2018.”

NZTR Chairman Matt Goodson says the industry is fully behind the new move.

“NZTR has always seen considerable benefit to the whole industry of finding ways to support the Karaka sales and this is a financially effective and appropriate way to do that," he said. "It goes to the heart of supporting the horses that New Zealand is so successful at producing and gives our participants a valuable opportunity to showcase their trade, engage their owners, and importantly to boost their coffers.

“The Karaka Million is an outstanding race meeting that showcases our industry to both domestic and international audiences. We're fortunate to have the commitment of the Auckland Racing Club and New Zealand Bloodstock to keep taking it to new levels for the industry's benefit, and NZTR is completely committed to helping them do that where we can.”

Paul Kenny, chairman of the Auckland Racing Club, says the new stake promises to take the Twilight meeting to another level.

“It's really a dream for the club to have the opportunity to host two such important and lucrative feature races and support the national sales in such a significant way," he said. "As one of the richest and most exciting race meetings in the country, not only is it great for the club, but it's a wonderful boost for breeders and owners and trainers who have such a vested interest in the Karaka Sales and we're very proud to be able to support them in this way.”