Te Akau Karaka Millions' Saturday Preview
25 January, 2025
Te Akau Racing has 23 horses entered on Saturday 25 January at Ellerslie and Riccarton.
Ellerslie:
Weather: cloudy, track: Soft5, rail: true. No rain forecast.
4:38 p.m. R1 1 Move To Strike (3 c I Am Invincible – No Evidence Needed) – Blake Shinn; he improved from last to fifth 600m, swept up to lead entering the home straight, found two lengths, and went on to win well in trial on 14 January at Matamata. Resuming in the $250,000 Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m), he indicated his readiness to resume racing in recent times, is Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner last season, and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.
5:13 p.m. R2 5 What You Wish For (4 g Embellish – Grand Wish) – Blake Shinn; he got back last, eight lengths at the 600m, was held up, and ran home solidly near the rail in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) here on 1 January. Contesting the $1 million Listed Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), he has been racing well this season, impressively winning twice. While he will be competitive in what is a strong field but he requires luck from the wide draw (13). Fixed odds: $20.00 & $4.80.
5:48 p.m. R3 2 Skew Wiff (5 m Savabeel – Starvoia) – Blake Shinn; she camped behind the leaders and closed well for fourth in the Group 1 TAB Telegraph on 4 January at Trentham. Contesting the $600,000 Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m), she was a Group One and Group Two winner across New Zealand and Australia over 1400 metres last season, and is a top three contender from barrier two if appreciative of course at first attempt. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00.
6:23 p.m. R4 3 To Bravery Born (2 c Snitzel – Milunka) – Blake Shinn; he displayed acceleration to win over 800 metres in August at Wanganui, and ascended quickly from back in the field to win the 2YO 1200 metres here on 12 January. One of three stablemates contesting the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), he is unbeaten in two starts, has drawn well in barrier two, and is a top three prospect. Fixed odds: $3.40 & $1.60.
6:23 p.m. R4 10 La Dorada (2 f Super Seth – Gold Fever) – Craig Williams; she overcame a tough run to record a dominant debut victory in the 2YO 1100 metres in November at Te Rapa, and finished second in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) here on 1 January. She displays the tenacious qualities suited to the event, and is more than capable of a podium finish from barrier five in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.90.
6:23 p.m. R4 14 Belle Du Monde (2 f Zoustar – Lady Cartier) – Wiremu Pinn; she has finished second in her two starts at Ellerslie, most recently in the 2YO 1100 metres on 26 December. She is from a classy family of stakes' winners, has displayed genuine attributes, and just requires a decent trip from barrier eight to prove competitive in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m). Fixed odds: $16.00 & $4.40.
6:23 p.m. R4 15 Dare To Proisir (2 g Proisir – Hayle Bay) – Craig Grylls; he finished third on debut and came from back in the field with strong finish for third in the 2YO 1200 metres here on 12 January, won by To Bravery Born (above). He currently sits on ballot one in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), and brings the right form to prove competitive if he makes field (unlikely), but would need luck from barrier 10. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $2.90.
Te Akau has won the Karaka Millions 2YO seven times, most recently with Tokyo Tycoon (Satono Aladdin) in 2023.
7:03 p.m. R5 10 Damask Rose (3 f Savabeel – Sombreuil) – Blake Shinn; she got back last from an outside gate (11) and ran the fastest last 600m (34.3) for sixth in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) here on 26 December. She then quickened into contention at the 250m and ran on strongly for second in a trial on 14 January at Matamata. Second in the Karaka Millions 2YO here last season, she displayed class winning fresh-up over 1200 metres in December at Te Rapa, and is certainly a danger to the favourite in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m). Fixed odds: $4.00 & $1.75.
Te Akau has won the Karaka Millions 3YO four times, including the race formerly known as the Karaka 3YO Classic.
7:43 p.m. R6 11 Captured By Love (3 f Written Tycoon – Moldova) – Craig Williams; she recorded a classy victory in the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) on 16 November at Riccarton, finished strongly down the outside to win going away in a trial on 14 January at Matamata, and resumes in the $700,000 Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m). A high quality multiple Group winning filly, she brings good course/distance stats into this feature event, and is a top three prospect with any with from the outside gate (11). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.20.
Riccarton:
Weather: fine, track: Soft5, rail: true. Showers forecast Saturday.
11:55 a.m. R1 5 Purple Prose (3 g Embellish – Lady Masako) – Marc Lerner; he kept closing off an economical trip for fourth in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 6 January at Otaki, and contests the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres. Half-sister to stable-mate Elegant Lady (Highly Recommended), she the winner of four races 1900m – 2200m who was twice stakes' placed, he is suited stepping up in distance and is ideally drawn (4) to be a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.80 & $1.65.
12:30 p.m. R2 8 By Her Rules (3 f Kermadec – Empress Cixi) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she tailed a small field and ran home solidly for fourth in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 26 December at Otaki. Contesting the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres, she too has drawn a good gate (4), and receives the opportunity to improve further if appreciative of the course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $3.30 & $1.50.
1:02 p.m. R3 5 Best Rose (2 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she went keenly in midfield, steadied behind the runners at the 600m, and ran on strongly near the rail for third in a trial on 14 January at Matamata. Debuting in the $40,000 2YO 800 metres, by Maurice (Screen Hero), the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler, she is from the family of Te Akau trained NZB Filly of the Year King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice), and can certainly make her presence felt in the compact field. Fixed odds: $1.95 & $1.05.
1:34 p.m. R4 3 Angels Wings (5 m Heroic Valour – Gowana) – Marc Lerner; she ran home well for third when resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 27 December at New Plymouth, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres. A three-time winner, she posted a course win over 1100 metres at the corresponding meeting last year, and will be in the thick of the action at the business end. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $1.95.
2:53 p.m. R6 6 Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon) – Marc Lerner; the first of two stablemates in this race, she did very well to finish second to subsequent Kumara Gold Nuggets (Open Handicap, 1810 metres) winner Treybon (Sweynesse) in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 18 December at Ashburton, and contests the $50,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. A stakes' winning mare, she is in good form, and brings first four prospects to the event from barrier five. Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.50.
2:53 p.m. R6 9 Beau Brummell (4 g Embellish – Fashion Forward) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); he sprinted resolutely from last to win the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 15 January, with Lawson-Carroll aboard, and rises in grade for the $50,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. He has an excellent course/distance record, brings winning form, and looks a top three chance from barrier three. Fixed odds: $10.00 & $3.20.
3:28 p.m. R7 5 Elegant Lady (5 m Highly Recommended – Lady Masako) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she racing in tight quarters late when finishing a close and unlucky fourth in the Kumara Gold Nuggets (Open Handicap, 1810 metres) on 11 January at Kumara, and also contests the $70,000 Woodbourne Tavern & Motels Marlborough Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m). A previous course/distance winner, she recorded a hat-trick of wins before being stakes' placed in the both the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last season, and she is more than capable to winning this event if she secures luck in the running from the outside draw (13). Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.25.
4:03 p.m. R8 1 Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay) – Marc Lerner; he has been given time (35 days) since contesting the Group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) on 21 December at Trentham, and is one of two stable starters in the $80,000 Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes (1200m). He produced a terrific effort for third in the Group 1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) two starts ago, and boasts an excellent course/distance record. While he is a quality galloper he faces a very stiff task with 60kg and the outside draw (15) to boot. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.35.
4:03 p.m. R8 8 Petrucci (5 m I Am Invincible – Via Napoli) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a); she tailed the field, looked to improve inside the 600m, and ran home strongly down the outside for third in a trial on 14 January at Matamata. Resuming in the $80,000 Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes, she has been an impressive winner, is a dual Group Three runner-up, and has drawn (6) to prove competitive if she appreciates the course at her first attempt. Fixed odds: $12.00 & $3.80.
4:45 p.m. R9 5 Star In The Sky (5 m Savabeel – Pikari Star) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she found the line strongly for third when resuming in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 6 January at Otaki, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. She has recorded three career wins 1400m – 2200m, and is having her first start on the course, but will require everything to go her way from the terrible draw (18). Fixed odds: $6.50 & $2.50.
5:20 p.m. R10 1 Rule Of Law (4 g Justify – Repeat) – Triston Moodley (a2); he fought hard for third after racing outside leader in the Rating 65 1600 metres here on 15 January, won by stable-mate Beau Brummell (above), and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1800 metres. Racing solidly, he enjoys weight relief to 58kg, but the question mark is the extra distance, and this race will tell us more. He is yet another that needs luck from the outside gate (24). Fixed odds: $7.00 & $2.70.
5:20 p.m. R10 17 Hayate (6 m Maurice – Vamoose) – Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1); she remained back when resuming in the Pearl Series Rating 65 Fillies & Mares 1400 metres on 6 January at Otaki, and contests the $40,000 Rating 65 1800 metres. She is the winner of four races from 1200m – 2000m, and has shown to appreciate longer trips. She seeks improvement today but, again, yet another that has copped a dreadful draw (18). Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.50.
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