12 to Compete for Karaka Stayers Cup

A field of 12 horses has been declared for the second running of the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup (2200m) at Ellerslie for Sunday’s Karaka Million Twilight Meeting.

Deane Martin (NZ) triumphant in the 2014 Westbury Karaka Stayers Cup.

Windsor Park Stud has committed to sponsor the Karaka Stayers Cup for three years with the race only added to the Karaka Million Series last year. Windsor Park Stud has played a big part in some of the best stayers to come out of New Zealand in recent times with the likes of So You Think (NZ), Might and Power (NZ), Descardo (NZ), Moncao Consul (NZ) and Nom du Jeu (NZ) all bred at Windsor Park Stud or by a sire that stood at the Stud.

Winner of the inaugural Karaka Stayers Cup last year was Deane Martin (NZ) (Keeper), who returns to defend his crown this year. Trained by Bruce Wallace, Deane Martin has been a Group 3 winner in Sydney this season and will have the services of rider Johnathan Riddell from barrier 10.

Bargain $2,500 Karaka Select Sale purchase Candle in the Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has won five of his 16 raceday starts for trainers Donna & Dean Logan and was last seen hitting the line strongly in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile.  The Darci Brahma mare will begin from barrier 4.

Promising four-year-old Blizzard (NZ) (Any Suggestion) has been in stellar form this season, winning three of his five races with one second placing and was fourth last start in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup. Drawn barrier 2 for rider James McDonald, Blizzard will be having his first start since November.

Last year’s runner-up in the Karaka Stayers Cup, Lion Red (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous), will be looking to go one better this year. Trained by Shaun Clotworthy, Lion Red has been a winner this campaign and finished mid-field in the Group 2 City of Auckland Cup after racing three-wide last start. Lion Red has drawn barrier 8 on Sunday.

Four-win mare Secret’s Only (Choisir) has shown promise in her career with two stakes placings over the past 12 months. The daughter of Choisir is trained by Jenna Mahoney and has drawn barrier 11.

Group 3 winning mare Rock Diva (NZ) (Luck Unicorn) is one of the class horses of the race, placing at Group 1 level in the New Zealand Oaks last season. Trained by Tony Pike, the daughter of Lucky Unicorn has been consistent this campaign without winning and has drawn barrier 9.

Last start Taupo Cup winner Rose of Virginia (NZ) (Thorn Park) is looking for back-to-back wins and returns to Ellerslie, the site of half of her four career wins for trainer Lance Noble. The daughter of Thorn Park has drawn 3.

Warhorse Back in Black (NZ) (Storm Creek) has won 14 races in his career and over $350,000 in prizemoney, making him the best performed horse in the race. Now a nine-year-old, Back in Black was a last start third for trainer John Steffert and has drawn barrier 7 for rider Vinnie Colgan.

A winner on the course two starts ago was the Stephen Marsh trained Chipandchase (NZ) (Pentire). The son of Pentire was then narrowly beaten on the course at his last start and has drawn barrier 1 on Sunday.

Rounding out the race is the Stephen McKee trained The Grinner (NZ) (O’Reilly) in barrier 6, the Sue Fuller trained Even Better (NZ) (St Petersburg) in barrier 12 and the Caroline Pomare trained Team Pete (NZ) (St Petersburg) in barrier 5.

Schedule as the second race on the night, the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup will be run at 5.41pm.

The feature race of the night is the $1m Karaka Million – New Zealand’s richest race – with a preview able to be viewed here. Also featuring on the night is the $100,000 NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile, with a preview able to be viewed here.

To view the fields for the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting, click here.

The Karaka Stayers Cup is open to all yearlings sold or passed at the National Yearling Sales Series until 2018. Yearlings sold at Karaka 2015 will be entitled to the race spoils in 2018, with only Karaka Million Series entered horses eligible to compete from then onwards.

The $1 million Karaka Million will be held at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie on the eve of the Karaka Premier Sale, this Sunday 25 January. Tickets are now on sale from www.ellerslie.co.nz.