A pair of full-siblings are in line to contest back-to-back runnings of the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) after a stylish win by Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Toretto is the new leader on the 2025 Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry and is by Ardrossan out of the Pentire mare Pwerfect. That makes him a brother to the stakes-winning Queensland galloper Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan), who finished seventh from a wide draw in the 2024 Karaka Millions 2YO in January.
Toretto was bred by Dewar Partnership and was offered by Lansdowne Park Ltd in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought by Benner Racing for $165,000. The gelding has had three starts for a win and two placings, earning a table-topping total of $29,275.
Runner-up in both of his first two starts behind fellow Karaka Millions contenders To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) and La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), Toretto turned a corner on Saturday and broke through in style in his third career start. Ridden by Ryan Elliot, the gelding quickened stylishly from well off the pace and bounded to the lead in the final 150 metres to win by a length and a quarter.
“We’ve run into Te Akau horses with my two-year-olds all season and keep running second, so to get the win this time was nice,” trainer Hollie Wynyard said. “The goal is to get back here for the Karaka Millions, and going around Ellerslie today is a big asset. With the track being a nice Soft5 today, he should pull up really well and we can carry on from here.
“He has come so much stronger and so much better from his first start, and after his run at Te Rapa, he has put on weight and I just can’t get on top of him.”
Toretto’s performance at Ellerslie made a good impression on Elliot.
“He wasn’t completely screwed down for his second run and he went an enormous race, and today he has put it all together,” he said. “It is good to see him round it off and handle going right-handed. He has come through them today and hit the line late, which is good for a two-year-old.”
There is a full-brother to both Toretto and Beau Dazzler catalogued for Karaka 2025. The Ardrossan colt will be offered by Elsdon Park in Book 1 and is set to go through the ring as Lot 228.
Saturday’s win gives Toretto a narrow lead on the order of entry, with Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega) now second with $28,325. They are followed by Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City) with $27,750, Roc ‘n’ Ready (NZ) (El Roca) with $25,875, Storm Front (NZ) (Snitzel) with $25,875, the Australian-trained Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) with $25,215, and the seventh-placed Landlock (Merchant Navy) with $25,000.
Eighth spot is held by the week’s other big mover, Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo). The colt was a $75,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024 and lifted his earnings to $23,600 with a win at Otaki on Thursday.
Romanoff did a lot wrong when unplaced on debut at Te Rapa earlier in the month, and Thursday brought more of the same. After taking command early in the run home, he veered out dramatically in the straight and almost threw it all away. But he was far enough in front and held on by a length, giving the impression that there could be much better things to come with the benefit of more experience.
“As a young and inexperienced horse, he just has a switch where he randomly surprises you with something that he does,” trainer Pam Gerard said. “He was probably left in front too early in that race and just had the chance to gawk around.
“He has always shown a huge amount of ability. He’s just natural at the moment and we have no extra gear on him, but there are plenty of things we can do help if required.
“We thought the overnight trip away to Otaki might be just what he needs, and now he’s won, so mission accomplished. We’ll just see how he does when he comes home before making any immediate plans, but it helps to get some prize-money if we go towards the Karaka Millions.”
There will be further opportunities to make moves up the order of entry this week, starting with New Plymouth hosting a two-year-old race with a stake of $18,500 on Thursday. Two days later, Trentham’s TAB Classic Day features a 1000-metre two-year-old race worth $65,000.
The TAB Karaka Millions 2YO is part of a stellar six-race twilight meeting at Ellerslie on January 25, which sets the scene for a spectacular week of Karaka 2025 selling action.
