Inaugural Karaka Stayers Cup Attracts Full Field

The inaugural running of the of the $100,000 Westbury Stud Karaka Stayers Cup has drawn a full field of the 16, and one ballot, for the 2200m event on the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie this Sunday.

Horses that are graduates of a New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series – sold or passed in – are eligible for this year’s race, with trainers and owners showing initiative to support the race to capacity.

At the top of the field is Chaparrone (NZ) (High Chaparral) a value $2,000 buy from the 2009 Karaka Select Sale. Trained by Stephen McKee, the daughter of High Chaparral was a narrow second in the Group 2 City of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie.

Joint top weight is Mosquito (NZ) (Golan) who defeated Chaparrone at their last meeting in the Group 2 City of Auckland Cup. James McDonald returns to ride the lightly tried stayer once again for Donna & Dean Logan, from barrier 11.

On the Level (NZ) (Align) has an affinity with Ellerslie having recorded two of his three career wins there and was placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby on the track as a three-year-old. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained runner was a last start third, also at Ellerslie.

Consistent galloper Grand Admiral (General Nediym) is the winner of four races and has a further 12 minor placings to his name. Trained by Peter & Dawn Williams, the five-year-old finished a close second two starts ago at Te Rapa and will jump from barrier 16 for leading rider Opie Bosson on Sunday.

Last start winner Ballybit (NZ) (Spartacus) travels north from New Plymouth for Allan & Kane Sharrock following a strong victory on Monday at Trentham. The seven-year-old was good enough to go Australia for a winter campaign last year and will start from barrier 10.

Talented stayer Go Joeli (NZ) (Brillance) was a close second two starts ago in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup over 3200m in November and has only had one race since then, that was over 1400m in preparation for Sunday’s event. The Shaun Clotworthy runner will begin from barrier 6.

Evergreen galloper Back in Black (NZ) (Storm Creek) will be looking for win number 10 in his well-travelled career. The eight-year-old has been racing against strong company throughout his career including lately and was placed third in this season’s Listed Wanganui Cup for Te Aroha trainer John Steffert.

The Bruce Wallace trained Deane Martin (NZ) (Keeper) was a winner two starts ago at Te Rapa for connections that include former international cricketer Simon Doull. The son of Keeper is a winner of five races and will look to win from barrier 14 on Sunday.

Lightly raced five-year-old Holy Smoke (NZ) (Faltaat) enters the race as a three-time win from only 12 starts. The David Haworth trained runner was blocked in the home straight at his last start with plenty left to give and will be looking atone on Sunday from barrier 8.

Shaun Clotworthy’s second runner in the race, Lion Red (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous), carries a consistent form line having won three starts ago and followed that performance with two third placings, all at Ellerslie including a third in the Dunstan Stayers Championship Final last start.

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have a two-pronged attack on the race with Her to Eternity (NZ) (Pentire) a strong second stringer. The four-year-old has been in strong form this season since winning at Hawkes Bay early in her campaign over 2100m.

Juggernaut Rock (Stratum) was a winner of 2400m at Ellerslie in November displaying strong stamina. The Jason Price trained filly will start from barrier 13 for Sunday’s staying feature.

Six-year-old Roddick (NZ) (Brilliance) has found his best form this season winning two races and being placed in his last four starts. Trained by Moira Murdoch, the son of Brilliance will be partnered by Trudy Thornton from barrier 4.

Undertheradar (NZ) (Don Eduardo) will be looking to emulate exactly what his name states and get under the radar of punters in the Karaka Stayers Cup. The four-year-old gelding is coming off good run in the Dunstan Stayers Championship Final last start when not getting all favours in the home straight.

Two-time winner Call Me Maybe (NZ) (Shinko King) is stepping up to a staying distances for the first time this campaign and was a solid second at her last start on Saturday for trainer Emily Holmes.

The last horse to make the field is Markers Mark (NZ) (Viking Ruler), a last start winner over 2000m at Thames. Trained by Bruce Wallace, the son of Viking Ruler will be ridden by leading apprentice Michael Dee who will claim 2kgs in the race.

There is one ballot in the race, The Grinner (NZ) (O’Reilly), who will be all smiles if there is a scratching in the race enabling the four-year-old gelding trained by Stephen McKee to take his place in the field.

The race has been scheduled to run at 5.41pm as Race 2 on the six-race programme. A final field of 17 horses has been gathered for the 1600m event. The first race for the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting will kick off at 5.09pm.

From this year until 2018 this new event will be open to all yearlings sold or passed at the National Yearling Sales Series.  This year’s crop of yearlings will be exclusively 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 26 January. Tickets are now on sale from www.ellerslie.co.nz.