I Am Belle Puts Carston in Karaka Millions Contention Again

Andrew Carston got within sight of the summit in last season’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and I Am Belle (I Am Invincible) might give the Riccarton trainer another shot at the big Ellerslie prize in January. 

Carston, who came third in the 2025 Karaka Millions 2YO with Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau), saddled I Am Belle for her raceday debut in Wednesday’s $65,000 Elmwood Trading Co 2YO (1000m) at Riccarton.

Ridden by Bruno Queiroz, I Am Belle sat three-wide on the outside of the leader before quickening at the top of the straight to stake her claim. Zaharias (NZ) (Super Seth) kicked through underneath her and threw down a serious challenge, but I Am Belle kept finding and scored by a half-neck.

I Am Belle’s winning debut earned $37,375 in prize-money for owner Glenn Ritchie, who also races Miss Ziggy, and has put the promising filly straight into second place on the order of entry for the 2026 Karaka Millions 2YO.

“I felt this filly had improved from her first trial to her second trial,” Carston said. “She has taken a little bit and she is a very unassuming filly, she just does what she has to do, but there is something about her I really like.

“She has taken everything in her stride and I imagine she will continue to do so. We might have to venture north at some stage, work our way up the island and see where we end up.”

I Am Belle shares second place on the order of entry with Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci). The top spot belongs to the Australian-based filly Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State), who earned A$120,750 from her debut victory in last month’s Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.

Another three juveniles share fourth place on the order of entry with $23,000 apiece – De Armas (Ardrossan), Midnight Dart (Derryn) and Silhouette (NZ) (Armory).

Zaharias comes next with $19,425, followed by Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) with A$16,400, Sword Of Stars (NZ) (Sword Of State) with $8,325 and Spellbound (NZ) (Per Incanto) with $7,400.

The Karaka Millions 2YO countdown will move up a notch on November 22 with the running of the first stakes race for two-year-olds in the New Zealand season – the $110,000 Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe.

The 2026 Karaka Millions 2YO will be run at Ellerslie on January 24, as part of a star-studded twilight card that also features the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), 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.

Vendor	Woburn Farm
Purhaser	Mr AJ Carston (Canterbury)
Breeding	I Am Invincible – Ahbelle
Sale	Lot 432, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $260,000
Breeder	Raphie Bloodstock Trust
Owner	Ritchies Breeding Ltd