With the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) now less than 20 days away, the likely line-ups for the blockbuster Ellerslie races are beginning to take shape.
Victory in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day has moved Kinnaird (Home Affairs) into top spot on the Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry as well as favouritism for the race.
Kinnaird is trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and was purchased for $340,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2025 by Te Akau’s David Ellis – the buyer of eight of the last nine Karaka Millions 2YO winners. Kinnaird’s two-start career has produced two wins and $152,375 in stakes.
Kinnaird has moved ahead of the Victorian raider Torture (NZ), who comes from the first crop sired by Cambridge Stud’s Sword Of State. She was bought by Lindsay Park Racing and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $250,000. Torture has earned A$128,250 from two starts, winning the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on debut in October before running on from the back of the field to finish fourth in the Geelong Diamond (1100m) last Saturday. Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have confirmed that a Karaka Millions mission is on for the classy filly.
“We really like her and saw the Geelong Diamond as a nice race to bring her on before we head to the Karaka Millions,” Ben Hayes said. “Karaka doesn’t totally rule out the Blue Diamond (Group One, 1200m) either.”
De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) is third on the order of entry with $86,250 from a two-start, two-win career including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
She is just ahead of a second potential Australian raider, last-start Eagle Farm winner Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca), who has A$65,200.
As it stands, the remainder of the 14-horse field would be made up of Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci) with $46,375, Butler Cabin (NZ) (Ardrossan) with $40,975, I Am Belle (I Am Invincible) with $40,000, Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) with $37,375, Incandescent (NZ) (Per Incanto) with $28,500, Spellbound (NZ) (Per Incanto) with $26,175, Vanzadee (NZ) (Vanbrugh) with A$26,000, Silhouette (NZ) (Armory) with $25,500, Midnight Dart (NZ) (Derryn) with $25,000 and Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) with $22,200.
But there are still chances left for others to stake their claim, with Wanganui hosting a $40,000 race on Saturday while a potentially crucial $55,000 dress rehearsal will be run at Ellerslie on Sunday.
Karaka Millions 3YO
The line-up for the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO is headed by the undefeated superstar filly Well Written (Written Tycoon).
Bought for a sale-topping $80,000 from the 2024 National Online Yearling Sale, Well Written has had four starts for four wins including the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Boxing Day’s Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m). The TAB rates the Stephen Marsh-trained Well Written a $1.50 favourite for the Karaka Millions 3YO and a $2 favourite for the $4m NZB Kiwi (1500m) in March.
But there is no shortage of talent among Well Written’s likely opposition on Karaka Millions Night. Second and third spots on the order of entry belong to the Pam Gerard-trained pair of Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), who finished first and second in a photo finish to the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
Three fillies share fourth spot including last season’s Karaka Millions 2YO queen La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), who put herself back on track for a shot at the Karaka Millions double after winning the Group Two Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham last Saturday. Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is currently the only horse to ever win both races.
Group Three winners Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) and War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) also sit in equal fourth place.
They are followed by He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel), last year’s Karaka Millions 2YO placegetter Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau), Landlock (Merchant Navy), Fat Cat (Written Tycoon), Fleeting Star (Cool Aza Beel), Nocturne (NZ) (Contributer), Savvysuper (Super Seth), Seychelles (NZ) (Proisir), Shameless Star (NZ) (Shamexpress), Swiss Prince (NZ) (El Roca), Yokozuna (Fierce Impact) and Bona Sforza (Written By).
The 3YO edition of the race will also see the first Book 2 horse across the line secure an extra $200,000 in bonuses.
The 2026 Karaka Millions 2YO and Karaka Millions 3YO will be run at Ellerslie on January 24, as part of a star-studded twilight card that also features the $700,000 Group One Sistema Railway (1200m), the $1m Group Three Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), the $250,000 Group Three Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and the $100,000 Jo Giles Stakes (1400m).
Karaka Millions night serves as the perfect curtain-raiser for the 100th edition of the New Zealand National Yearling Sale, which gets underway the following day. Book 1 of Karaka 2026 takes place on January 25 and 26, followed by Book 2 on January 27 and the new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.
