All eyes are on the showdown between Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in Saturday’s $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, and the two star three-year-olds are set to jump from neighbouring gates.
Between them, Legarto and Wild Night go into this match-up as the winners of 10 of their last 11 starts. Legarto’s unbeaten record includes spectacular stakes wins in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). Wild Night was sixth on debut in August but has been unstoppable ever since, with five consecutive wins including the Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
Legarto and Wild Night are the two horses that everyone will be watching at 7.28pm on Saturday evening, and they have drawn neighbouring gates, with Legarto in one and Wild Night right next to her in two.
But the chances don’t end there in a field that ranks among the deepest and classiest in the history of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
Last year’s Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) has drawn gate three, while last-start Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) winner Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos) is beside him in gate four.
Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who ran third in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) before a brilliant victory in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), has drawn gate five.
Khafre (American Pharoah) and Three Ninety (NZ) (Per Incanto) have drawn six and seven, with last-start Eight Carat Classic placegetter Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in gate eight.
New Zealand 2000 Guineas runner-up Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) will jump from gate nine, with multiple stakes placegetters The Intimidator (Toronado) and Channel Surfer (NZ) (Derryn) drawn 10 and 11 respectively.
Completing the star-studded line-up is Group Three winner Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who will jump from the outside gate in a field of 12.
$1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic Quick Facts
- Barrier 6 has had the most wins for the 3YO, with a success rate of 30.77% and 4 wins.
- The most expensive horse in the 3YO race is Dynastic who was purchased for $360,000. The cheapest horse in the 3YO race is Sacred Satono who was purchased for $34,000.
- Kiwi sire Proisir has sired two runners in the 3YO race, Legarto and Prowess.
- The vendor with the most runners in the 3YO race is Windsor Park Stud with Wild Night, Dynastic and Wessex.
- O P Bosson has had five Karaka million wins. He had a four year winning streak until 2021, but won again in 2022.
- International jockeys who have won: Michael Rodd (AUS, 2009), Stathi Katsidis (Aus, 2010), Craig Williams (AUS, 2012 & 2013), Mark du Plessis (Zimbabwe, 2014).
The Karaka Million 3YO Classic is the final race on Saturday’s six-race card at Pukekohe, with a start time of 7.28pm.
