The stage is set for a trans-Tasman showdown in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with Wednesday morning’s barrier draw strengthening the claims of some of the biggest players.
A full field of 14 plus two emergencies has been assembled for the 19th edition of the Karaka Millions 2YO, including three Australian-trained raiders.
As has so often been the case throughout the last decade, the local contingent is headed by Te Akau Racing. The tangerine powerhouse has won eight of the last nine runnings of this juvenile showpiece, with all of those winners purchased by David Ellis.
Te Akau’s three-strong team for the 2026 edition of the race is headed by Kinnaird (Home Affairs). The classy colt held favouritism in the TAB’s Karaka Millions 2YO market leading into Wednesday’s draw, and he tightened further from $4.60 into $4.20 after landing gate two.
Kinnaird boasts a perfect two-from-two record including the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) over the Karaka Millions course and distance on New Year’s Day.
“He just keeps improving,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson said. “He only just won on debut down there at Otaki in November, but the trip away grew him and toughened him up.
“His work has been really good leading into this weekend. He just has a fantastic attitude and is coping beautifully with everything we throw at him.”
Te Akau’s other two runners, Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci) and Zaharias (NZ) (Super Seth), were less fortunate with the draw and will jump from gates 16 and 14 respectively.
The biggest threats could come from across the Tasman. Torture (NZ), a stakes-winning daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State, will jump from gate five for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. She is second favourite at $4.60.
Queensland’s Liam Birchley already has two Karaka Millions victories to his name with Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym) in 2010 and Hardline (NZ) in 2015. He is back again with two runners in 2026, including highly impressive last-start winner Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca), who is rated a $5.50 chance after securing the coveted ace draw of gate one. Birchley’s other runner Vanzadee (NZ) (Vanbrugh) will jump from gate 12.
“They’re two really nice, precocious fillies and have handled everything really well,” Birchley said.
“You need the right type of horse to even get into the race – you need an early-running, sound two-year-old. And then you need a bit of luck leading into it and a bit more luck on the day. That’s basically the formula.
“Dream Roca’s drawn one, she’s in good form and should get all favours from that gate. She’d have to be one of the leading chances. The other filly is level pegging with her in terms of ability, but the barriers are important from that 1200-metre start at Ellerslie. I’m well aware of that.”
Unbeaten, Listed-winning filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) has drawn awkwardly in gate 10 but remains a well supported third favourite for the race at $5.
The $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO will be run as the fourth race on a spectacular six-race card at Ellerslie on Saturday that carries total prize-money in excess of $4m. The scheduled start time for the Karaka Millions 2YO is 6.13pm.
