Bella Court Bounds into Karaka Million
12 January 2015
Karaka Million excitement continues to build with New Zealand's richest race, the $1m Karaka Million, less than two weeks away.
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Bella Court (NZ) winning the NZB Pearl Insurance Series two-year-old race. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell. |
The weekend’s racing resulted in significant changes to the Order of Entry with Bella Court (NZ) (Per Incanto) securing a place in the Karaka Million field after an impressive victory at Ellerslie in the $20,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series two-year-old race (1200m).
Trained by New Zealand’s leading trainer of last season Lisa Latta, Bella Court made her racing debut just 21 days ago where she finished second to Strata Lady (NZ) (Stratum), who is sitting eighth on the Order of Entry.
The two-year-old filly earned $12,000 with her 1.3 length victory rocketing her up 15 places to now sit comfortably in fifth position on the Order of Entry for the Karaka Million.
“She has always shown a lot,” comments Lisa Latta. “Her preparation has been with the Karaka Million in mind but I want to do the right thing with her.
“I think she will be a nicer three-year-old and I don’t want to make any decisions until I get a saddle back on her.”
Bella Court is also the second progeny of young sire Per Incanto to earn a crack at the $1m race with Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto) of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s stable sitting directly above her in fourth position.
The promising filly was bred by star international kiwi jockey James McDonald and was purchased at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock’s Festival Sale for $37,000 by Lisa Latta Racing Stable.
“She really took my eye at the Sales, obviously at the Festival Sale you have to get around a lot of horses but she stood out,” comments Latta.
The two-year-old daughter of Coats Choice Ilikai (NZ) (Coats Choice) also jumped into the field last week after winning a $7,500 race at Reefton. Trained by Michael Pitman, the filly is currently set to make the final field, sitting in 12th position on the Order of Entry.
Showboy (NZ) (Showcasing) remains the leader of the Order of Entry after running third in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes on New Year’s Day with $74,650 earned in prizemoney for trainer Nigel Tiley.
Maritimo (NZ) (Pins) is second in the Order of Entry after finishing runner-up ahead of Showboy in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes. Trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, this filly increased her stakes to $51,150.
The Darci Brahma filly Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma) ran along with Showboy and Maritimo on New Year’s Day to finish fifth for Jason Bridgman’s stable and now has total stakes of $45,000.
Dal Cieloremains in fourth position with $27,500 and Bella Court is now in fifth with $16,000 in prizemoney.
Below is the top 20 2YOs in the Order of Entry:
| Order | Name | Breeding | Trainer | Sale | Price | Vendor | Purchaser | Total Stakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Showboy | Ch. G Showcasing x Shades of Silk | N W Tiley | K3 | $15,000 | Haunui Farm | Nigel Tiley | $74,650 |
| 2 | Maritimo | B. F Pins x Miracle Miss | G A Rogerson | K1 | $200,000 | Waikato Stud Ltd | Rogerson B/stock | $51,150 |
| 3 | Windborne | B. F Darci Brahma x Sweet Dreams Baby | J W Bridgman | K2 | $100,000 | Goodwood Stud | Fortuna Syndications | $45,000 |
| 4 | Dal Cielo | Br. G Per Incanto x Cent From Heaven | M P Baker | K2 | $95,000 | Little Avondale Stud | Bruce Perry B/stock | $27,500 |
| 5 | Bella Court | B. F Per Incanto x Belle Chantecler | Ms L Latta | K3 | $37,000 | A. T. Powell | Lisa Latta Racing | $16,000 |
| 6 | China Silk | B. F Hard Spun x Uno Sayuri | Ms D Guy | S.I | $9,000 | Curraghmore Stud | NZB as Agent | $15,800 |
| 7 | Hardline | Ch. G Showcasing x Midnight Breaker | L F Birchley | K2 | $130,000 | Hallmark Stud | LB Racing | A$13,800 |
| 8 | Strata Lady | B. F Stratum x Estermate | L A O'Sullivan | K1 | $40,000 | Cambridge Stud | Wexford Stables | $12,500 |
| 9 | Platinum Express | Br. F Showcasing x My Other Woman | Ms L Latta | K2 | $20,000 | Haunui Farm | Lisa Latta Racing | $11,850 |
| 10 | Outlaw Kate | Ch. F Exceed and Excel x She's Got Gears | L J Molloy | K1 | $150,000 | Ascot Farm | Phill Cataldo B/stock | $11,400 |
| 11 | Peach Cove | B. F Buffalo Man x Tennisciti Belle | A J Brown | K3 | $5,500 | Totara Park Stud | NZB as agent | $9,875 |
| 12 | Ilikai | Br. F Coats Choice x Blame the Music | M R Pitman | K3 | $8,000 | Berkley Stud | The Robt Dawe Agency Ltd | $9,315 |
| 13 | Jacqueric | B. C Beneteau x Hey Pretty Katie | J G Symons & S Laxon | K2 | $50,000 | K. R. & A. J. Mahoney | JSL Racing | A$9,150 |
| 14 | Gotham | B. G Onemorenomore x Krysia | J L McVean | K1 | $65,000 | Windsor Park Stud | McVean Racing | $8,800 |
| 15 | Selfie | B. G Thewayyouare x Miss Brownie | R D Collett | K3 | $40,000 | Windsor Park Stud | The Robt Dawe Agency Ltd | $8,175 |
| 16 | O'Dianne | B. F O'Reilly x Breezy | S J McKee | K1 | $120,000 | Waikato Stud Ltd | TJ McKee | $7,200 |
| 17 | Billy Mojo | B. C Mastercraftsman x British Dame | S B Marsh | K2 | $60,000 | Windsor Park Stud | Go Racing Ltd | $6,875 |
| 18 | The Justice League | B. C I Am Invincible x L'Artiste | N W Tiley | K2 | $50,000 | Lyndhurst Farm | Nigel Tiley | $5,900 |
| 19 | Perfect Harmonee | B. G Nadeem x Harmony | P S Belsham | K2 | $18,000 | Cambridge Stud | PS Belsham | $4,900 |
| 20 | Battle Plan | Br. C Battle Paint x Temptation | D R Wiles | S.I | $10,000 | Three Valleys | DR Wiles | $4,700 |
To view the full Order of Entry, click here.
The next two-year-old race will take place next Saturday at Trentham with a $30,000 2YO 1200m race. Te Rapa will also run a two-year-old race on Saturday with a $10,000 MDN 2YO 1200m race and a $17,500 2YO 1000m race is set to run at Gore.
The anticipation heightens with only one more week of racing before nominations close on 20 January.
The Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie on 25 January also features the $100,000 3YO Mile. This race is open to graduates of the 2013 National Yearling Sale Series who entered the Karaka Million Series.
The Twilight Meeting also features the newly introduced $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup. Any horse sold or passed in at a New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Series is eligible to enter.
For more information on the Karaka Million Series, click here.