Damask Rose (NZ) Goes One Better in Karaka Millions 3YO

A year after a gallant second in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in only the second race of her career, high-class filly Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) came back and went one better in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Damask Rose was a $200,000 purchase by David Ellis from Milan Park’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023. From six starts, she has now recorded three wins and two placings, earning $1.03m.

Damask Rose’s Ellerslie heroics on Saturday completed yet another Karaka Millions clean sweep for the all-conquering Te Akau Racing team, who won the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) with La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) 40 minutes earlier.

This is the third time that Te Akau has won the Karaka Millions 2YO and 3YO on the same day. They did the double with Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in 2020, then with Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) and Pin Me Up (NZ) (Pins) in 2022.

Damask Rose soared to Karaka Millions favouritism with a dominant win under 59 kilograms at Te Rapa in December, although her burgeoning reputation took a knock when she finished only sixth in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. But on Saturday she was right back at the peak of her powers in the one that really mattered.

Visiting Australian jockey Blake Shinn took up a comfortable midfield position before moving out into clear air down the middle of the home straight.

Damask Rose warmed into her work stylishly, drawing up alongside Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) and Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High) and pulling ahead of them to win by a length.

“Full credit to Blake Shinn, he rode her for a touch of luck and he got the splits at the right time,” co-trainer Mark Walker said. “That’s why you get these international riders.

“Well done to David Ellis. She was actually the last yearling to sell out all of the shares in. The last ones often turn out to be the really good ones – Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and now this filly.

“We just put her Boxing Day performance down to the fact that she was second-up. If she hadn’t run second-up, we probably couldn’t have got her here, so it’s sometimes a case of being damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

“She holds a slot for the NZB Kiwi (1500m) in March, so that’s where she’ll be heading now.”

Shinn has now had three rides on Damask Rose. He was in the saddle for her second placing in the Karaka Millions 2YO and her unplaced performance on Boxing Day.

“It’s truly special to be able to come here on one of New Zealand’s biggest days and ride a winner for Te Akau,” Shinn said. “Congratulations to Mark, Sam (Bergerson), David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis. It’s a big team effort, and results like these are what they do it for. I’m just lucky and grateful for this opportunity.

“She jumped better than she did last time. Blinkers were applied today, and I came over two weeks ago and jumped her out in blinkers. I think they’re helping her to race more tractably.

“She stepped up to the mile today, and I think the rain today helped her, and she’s won impressively. I’m very proud to achieve this for Te Akau.”

Runner-up Tuxedo was a $70,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has had four starts for two wins, two placings and $307,660 in stakes.

The third-placed Dealt With, whose trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood won this race with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in 2023 and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in 2024, was bought for $90,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. His three-race career has produced two wins, a placing and $117,735.

Vendor	Milan Park
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)
Breeding	Savabeel – Sombreuil
Sale	Lot 534, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $200,000
Bred by	T V Rider