While powerhouse syndicators Te Akau Racing had a mixed bag with the barrier draws for their seven runners in Saturday’s $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Pukekohe, it was a group of talented fillies from Cambridge who landed coveted inside gates.
The fleet-footed Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) has gate speed to burn, and the Stephen Marsh-trained filly has had the best possible outcome for her racing style with a draw of one.
Stakes-winning fellow Cambridge runners Ethereal Star (Snitzel) and Impendabelle (Impending) have also drawn favourably in gates three and five respectively.
The draw has added to some building momentum around well-related filly Ethereal Star, who has top Melbourne jockey Damian Lane crossing the Tasman to take the ride. Bought for $600,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Ethereal Star has already been a black-type winner at Pukekohe – capturing the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Challenge Stakes (1100m) in November.
Te Akau Racing have made this race their own in recent years, celebrating six consecutive winners who were bought by David Ellis and trained by Jamie Richards.
With multiple premiership-winning trainer Mark Walker now back at the helm, Te Akau once again has a powerful hand in this year’s race with an incredible seven runners in the field.
The highest-rated member of their arsenal is Trobriand (Kermadec), who has won all of his three starts including the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m). He has drawn solidly in gate six, but it was a different story for their other undefeated runner Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). A last-start winner at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, he has drawn one from the outside in gate 14.
She Turns Heads (Headwater), who has finished second to well-credentialled rivals in all of her three starts, got the best of Te Akau’s draws in gate two, while Balance Of Power (NZ) (Almanzor) has the daunting task of jumping from the extreme outside gate. Stakes placegetters Talisker (NZ) (Embellish), Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) and Believe In Magic (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) all drew midfield in gates seven, eight and nine respectively.
The only runner on the ballot, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Stickto The Orders (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), has drawn gate four.
Otaki raider Dapper (NZ) (Shooting To Win) will break from gate 10, while Shoes (NZ) (Derryn), Orgullo (Pride Of Dubai) and Farravallo (NZ) (Belardo) complete the field in gates 11, 12 and 13 respectively.
$1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) Quick Facts
- Barrier 1 and barrier 14 have had the most wins for the 2YO. They both have a success rate of 20% and 3 wins. No horse in the 2YO race has ever won in barrier 6.
- The most expensive horse in the 2YO race is Ethereal Star who was purchased for $600,000. The cheapest horse in the 2YO race is Farravallo who was purchased for $20,000.
- Australian sire Snitzel has sired two runners in the 2YO race, they are Ethereal Star and Rhetorical.
- The vendors with the most runners in the 2YO race are Hallmark Stud (Impendabelle and Orgullo), and Haunui Farm (Rhetorical and Farravallo). They each have two runners.
- Te Akau have won the past six Karaka Million 2YO races since 2017 and are going for their seventh this year.
- 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 DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO will be run as Race 4 at Pukekohe on Saturday, with a start time of 6.08pm.
