Karaka Million Shaping Up

The Karaka Million is really starting to take shape with another two races last week which saw a number of new graduates take to the track.

Last Tuesday a small field of four raced in the Toops 2YO over 800 metres at Trentham and it was Brackenwood (Perfectly Ready x Woodminco) who took the honours.

Trained by Lisa Latta, Brackenwood has now had two starts for two wins and moved to third place in the Karaka Million Order of Entry with $13,128.

Second place was Isaready (Perfectly Ready x Isodara) who completed the quinella for Karaka graduates and his sire Perfectly Ready whose progeny are prominent on the Order of Entry. Isaready moves to tenth place on the Karaka Million Order of Entry with $3,400.

Perfectly Ready has a strong draft of 12 horses nominated for the Ready to Run Sale next week. Entries include Lot 198 from Sally's Stables, a filly out of Blue Heaven, a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Pasta Post, Lot 258 from Phoenix Park, the gelding from Group 1 winner Donna Rosita and Lot 148 from Arnwood Farm, the colt from Yakutat, the family of Waikato Stud's new sire Rios, Group 1 AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor and Group 1 winner Tully Thunder.

Brackenwood is owned by Double LL Syndicate and was purchased by Lisa Latta Racing Stables from Grande Vue Lodge from the 2010 Select Yearling Sale for $26,000.

Racing on Saturday saw two-year-old action on both sides of the Tasman with the Esker Lodge Juvenile at Te Rapa and the Group 3 VRC Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington.

Karaka graduate and hot favourite Holy Moly (Holy Roman Emperor x Clarissa) proved a class above her rivals in the Esker Lodge Juvenile (1000m) as she led all the way in the hands of Andrew Calder to win the race by two lengths on debut.

Trained by Roger James, Holy Moly looks to be another talented two-year-old and adds further interest to what is quickly becoming a very intriguing line up for the Karaka Million.

Bought by Barry Lee Bloodstock from the Curraghmore Stud draft in the 2010 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $200,000, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor earned connections $6,875 with the win and goes straight to a tie in sixth place with Savabill (Savabeel) in the Order of Entry.

Flemington's $150,000 Group 3 VRC Maribyrnong Plate saw Karaka graduate Sanford (Darci Brahma x South Carolina) step onto the track for his debut and in a good performance finished only 1.2 lengths from the winner in seventh. He gained A$3,000 for his efforts and goes straight to eleventh place on the Order of Entry.

The Order of Entry for the Karaka Three-Year-old Mile has remained largely unchanged over the weekend with Rotorua Plate winner Twilight Savings (Secret Savings) still in the lead with a domestic rating of 84 after her third in the Group 1 2000 Guineas on Saturday. Banchee (Oratorio) remains in second place with a rating of 80 with Icepin and Encosta Diablo in a tie for third place on 78.

The next two-year-old race is scheduled for Thursday 11 November with Karaka Million nominee Venetian Raider included in the field.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs is the next auction on the NZB calendar with 494 horses catalogued for the 16 & 17 November at Karaka. For news and sale information visit www.nzb.co.nz.