Karaka Million Barrier Draw
26 January 2011
The 2011 Karaka Million is living up to the hype with a wonderful line-up of two-year-olds set to compete for New Zealand's richest two-year-old purse on Sunday night.
The final field for the Karaka Million has been released and the barrier draw was conducted live today on Radio Trackside by Peter Early and Auckland Racing Club's Director of Racing Butch Castles.
A maximum of 14 starters will line up at Ellerslie for the one million dollar feature at 7:13pm on Sunday evening.
2011 Field Analysis
Of the trainers with horses lining up on Sunday, some have already been in the money once before: Peter McKay won the inaugural Karaka Million in 2008 with Vincent Mangano, John Sargent had Banchee run third last year, Andrew Scott had Bewitch run second in 2009, and Stephen McKee had Raid run third in 2008.
John Sargent has the most runners this year with three lining up: Savabill, Super Easy and Dollario. Andrew Scott has two runners with Jackthelad and Cracker, and Lisa Latta will make her Karaka Million debut with her two runners, Brackenwood and Fort Lincoln.
Other first-time Karaka Million trainers include Australian trainer Lee Freedman with Chateauneuf Dupape coming over from Melbourne, Keith & Brendon Hawtin (Lady Chapel), Jim Collett (Venetian Raider), Peter & Dawn Williams (Planet Rock), Jason Price (Queen Boudicca), Shane Marr (The Aftershock) and Francis Finnegan (Smoke 'n' Mirrors).
The field will see seven graduates from the Karaka Premier Sale with the Stephen McKee trained Witz End the most expensive runner, bought for $325,000. The Karaka Select Sale will see nine runners from its ranks in the race with the Karaka Festival Sale represented by two runners.
This year's Karaka Million field sees a strong representation by first season sires Perfectly Ready and Darci Brahma. Perfectly Ready has the most runners in the field with three entrants. He is currently New Zealand's leading first season sire with 15 starters for five winners (a 33% runners to winners ratio) and three stakes-placed horses in Precise, Brackenwood and Isle be Ready.
Darci Brahma is represented by two sons in the race including the Australian runner Chateauneuf Dupape. He also has his stakes placed son, the John Sargent trained Super Easy, who was beaten by a nose at his last start by the smart filly Anabandana in the Listed Stella Artois Stakes.
Previous successful sires in the Karaka Million are No Excuse Needed (Vincent Mangano, 2008), Lucky Owners (The Heckler, 2009) and General Nediym (Sister Havana, 2010). Both No Excuse Needed and General Nediym will have their chance to sire another Karaka Million winner with Release Me and Witz End in Sunday's field.
2011 Karaka Million Field
| Name� | Barrier | Breeding | Trainer | Sale | Price | Vendor | Purchaser | Stakes Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Lombardo | 7 | B.C. Pins x Petit Verdot | Peter McKay | K1 | $120,000 | Trelawney Stud Ltd | Mr PN & Mrs K McKay | $38,125 |
| Savabill | 18 | B.G. Savabeel x Illuminate | John Sargent | K2 | $40,000 | Esker Lodge | Mr J G Sargent | $24,025 |
| Super Easy | 15 | B.C. Darci Brahma x Parfore� | John Sargent | K1 | $140,000 | Esker Lodge | Blue Sky Thoroughbreds | $23,025 |
| Brackenwood | 3 | B.C. Perfectly Ready x Woodminco | Lisa Latta | K2 | $26,000 | Grande Vue Lodge | Lisa Latta Racing Stables | $17,928 |
| Chateauneuf Dupape | 5 | B.C Darci Brahma x Loudenne | D L Freedman� | K1 | $310,000 | Pencarrow Stud | BBA - Ireland | A$10,550 NZ$13,813 |
| Dollario | 4 | B.G. Captain Rio x Dungaree Doll� | J G Sargent� | K3 | $16,000 | Archer Park | Mr J G Sargent | $13,100 |
| Jackthelad | 6 | C.G Danroad x Ishkala� | Andrew Scott | K2 | $75,000 | Highview Stud | Mr L O'Sullivan | $9,000 |
| Fort Lincoln | 2 | B.C. Charge Forward x Belle Toujours | Lisa Latta | K1 | $110,000 | Curraghmore Stud | Lisa Latta Racing Stables | $8,087 |
| Release Me | 17 | B.G. No Excuse Needed x La Pearl� | Stephen McKee | K2 | $40,000 | Sir James Lodge� | Mr BG Hedley | $7,725 |
| Lady Chapel | 11 | Ch.F. King's Chapel x Akela� | Keith & Brendon Hawtin | K2 | $15,000 | Windsor Park Stud | Mr K W Hawtin | $19,250 |
| Venetian Raider | 10 | B.F. Rusty Spur x Rare Bits� | Jim Collett | K3 | $14,000 | Totara Park Stud | Riverview Farms | $10,500 |
| Planet Rock | 13 | B.F Fastnet Rock x Akris� | Peter & Dawn Williams | K1 | $290,000 | Wellfield Lodge | Mr GC Beemsterboer | $9,400 |
| Cracker | 9 | B.F. O'Reilly x Dilemma | Andrew Scott | K2 | $32,500 | Highview Stud | Mr L O'Sullivan | $8,625 |
| Queen Boudicca | 8 | B.F. Perfectly Ready x Qwikchik� | Jason Price | K2 | $39,000 | Leanach Lodge | Blue Diamond Stud | $7,500 |
| The Aftershock | 12 | B.C. Nadeem x Queens Move� | Shane Marr | K1 | $65,000 | Haunui Farm | Go Racing LTD | $6,550 |
| Beejay Belle | 14 | B.F. Perfectly Ready x Guinness� | Murray & Bjorn Baker | K2 | $80,000 | Lyndhurst Farm | Michael Wallace Bloodstock | $6,250 |
| Smoke 'n' Mirrors | 16 | B.F. Fast 'n' Famous x Bayswater | Francis Finnegan | K2 | $21,000 | Hallmark Stud | Mr FG Finnegan | $6,250 |
| Witz End | 1 | Ch.C. General Nediym x Gemstone | Stephen McKee | K1 | $325,000 | Rich Hill Stud | Mr P J Walker | $4,000 |
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The first race at Ellerslie's Karaka Million Twilight Meeting will be at 5.09pm. The six-race card is as follows:
Race 1�� 5-09pm���������������� Curraghmore Stud 2100
Race 2�� 5-41pm���������������� Perfectly Ready For Karaka 2011 1400
Race 3�� 6-11pm���������������� New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 3YO Mile
Race 4�� 6-41pm���������������� Cambridge Stud 1200
Race 5�� 7-13pm���������������� Karaka Million (1200m Res. L)
Race 6�� 7-46pm���������������� Darci Brahma @ Karaka 2011 Mile
Past Winners of the Karaka Million:
2008: Vincent Mangano (No Excuse Needed x Rationable), Trained: Peter and Kim McKay, Jockey: Vinny Colgan, Vendor: Waikato Stud, Sale Price: $80,000, Buyer: Mr PN and Mrs K McKay. Won from barrier 14.
2009: The Heckler (Lucky Owner's x Comedy Caf�), Trained: Murray and Bjorn Baker, Jockey: Michael Rodd, Vendor: Woodridge Farm, Sale Price: $70,000, Buyer: Mr PJ Walker. Won from barrier 2.
2010: Sister Havana (General Nediym x Ultima Vita), Trained: Liam Birchley, Jockey: Stathi Katsidis, Vendor: Shelby Park, Sale Price: $ $40,000, Buyers: Aquanita Racing PTY. Won from barrier 1.
To view the full Karaka Million Order of Entry, click here. �To view the terms and conditions for the Karaka Million, click here.� For more information on the Karaka Million, please visit www.nzb.co.nz.