Karaka Million Tomorrow!!!
26 January 2008
The excitement is mounting at Karaka with one day to go until the inaugural running of the richest juvenile race in New Zealand, theKaraka Million (Res.L) (1200m).
For graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 National Yearling Sales Series, an initial list of 336 eligible runners have competed throughout the season to earn valuable stake money to earn them a start in the feature race at Ellerslie racecourse tomorrow.
The final Karaka Million field consists of eight Premier Sale graduates, six from the Select Sale, two from Festival and three from the first-ever Carnival Sale. Their prices range from just NZ$17,000 for the speedy daughter of Hallmark Stud's Rusty Spur, Silk Spur, to NZ$380,000 for the regally bred Noble Manor.
The field includes two dual-Listed race winners in the Graeme Rogerson and Garry Newham trained San Bernardino and Peter McKay's Vincent Mangano. The pair's last face-off was in the Waikato Racing Club's Listed Fairview Ford Stakes (1100m) and saw San Bernardino decisively winning with Vincent Mangano back in fourth.
With the wide draw a challenge for Vincent Mangano, Peter McKay is lucky to have a second chance at the million with Al Qurah in the race for the same owners.
Al Qurhah is one of three Stravinsky-sired progeny in the field along with Noble Manor and Concerto. The Oaks Stud sire Spartacus also has multiple representations in the race with the stakes-placed youngsters from his first-crop runners Maureen Dorothy and Fyfetheknife.
Maureen Dorothy, trained at Te Aroha by Chris Smith, shot into the field with her second placing in the Group 3 ARC Eclipse Stakes (1200m) on New Year's Day where she edged out San Bernardino who was a head back in third.
While last weekend Fyfetheknife ran on for third in the Group 2 WRC Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Trentham.
The six-race Twilight Meeting (first race at 5.10) promises to be an exciting start to New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series with selling starting at Karaka at 11am the next day.
Premier Sale vendors Tamgaly Stud, The Oaks Stud, Cambridge Stud, Whakanui Stud and Pencarrow Stud have generously sponsored the other races on the card, a series of four special condition maiden races and a three-year-old mile race.
The 2008 Karaka Million field and their sale details are as follows:
| No | Horse | Barrier | Breeding | Vendor | Purchaser | Price | Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Bernardino | 3 | Gold Mine - Miss Katella | Hallmark Stud | Rogerson Bloodstock | $28,000 | Select |
| 2 | Vincent Mangano | 18 | No Excuse Needed - Rationable | Waikato Stud | Mr PN & Mrs K McKay | $80,000 | Premier |
| 3 | Nuke Time | 12 | Choisir - Chloella | Esker Lodge | Mr DC Ellis | $50,000 | Carnival |
| 4 | Sir Invincible | 13 | Invincible Spirit - Muffin McLay | Esker Lodge | Mr DC Ellis | $120,000 | Carnival |
| 5 | Concerto | 5 | Stravinsky - Rodrigo Rose | Cambridge Stud | Rogerson Bloodstock | $70,000 | Premier |
| 6 | I Robot | 11 | Ishiguru - Echo Beach | Chequers Stud | Paul Moroney Bloodstock | $110,000 | Premier |
| 7 | Fyfetheknife | 2 | Spartacus - Fontana | The Oaks Stud | Mr PA Willetts | $48,000 | Select |
| 8 | Al Qurhah | 4 | Stravinsky - Belleville | Rodmor Stud | Mr PN & Mrs K McKay | $105,000 | Premier |
| 9 | Noble Manor | 15 | Stravinsky - Sarwatch | Pencarrow Stud | Mr DC Ellis | $380,000 | Premier |
| 10 | Silk Spur | 14 | Rusty Spur - Silk Purse | Totara Park Stud | KSM Livestock | $17,000 | Festival |
| 11 | Amazing Sky | 9 | Danroad - Quasi Stellar | Highview Stud | Mr DC Ellis | $40,000 | Select |
| 12 | Maureen Dorothy | 10 | Spartacus - Avelina | The Oaks Stud | CP Smith | $52,500 | Premier |
| 13 | Raid | 8 | Pins - Vanilla Sky | Waikato Stud | Mr HD Dyke | $250,000 | Premier |
| 14 | Il Quello Veloce | 7 | Captain Rio - Nishaani | Westbury Stud | J Sargent | $50,000 | Select |
| 15 | Seathepost | 1 | Postponed - Comb the Seas | Ardsley Stud | Michael Wallace Bloodstock | $60,000 | Select |
| 16 | Bankside Belle | 6 | Volksraad - Chianina | Windsor Park Stud | Michael Otto Bloodstock | $46,000 | Carnival |
| 17 | Straitothepoolroom | 19 | No Excuse Needed - Kirkberg | Waikato Stud | Mr Bruce Perry | $60,000 | Select |
| 18 | Winning Way | 16 | Black Minnaloushe - Xeraphin | Westbury Stud | All's Well Thoroughbred Invest | $150,000 | Premier |
| 19 | Sanjura | 17 | Sandtrap - La Jura | Seaton Park | KSM Livestock | $27,000 | Festival |
In a new development, graduates of the 2008 National Yearling Sales Series will be able to vie for a spot in the 2009 Karaka Million and the $200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile on 2010 for the single payment entry fee of $1,750.
New Zealand Bloodstock has commissioned two buses to transport people from the Karaka Sales Complex to Ellerslie in time for the first race, the Tamgaly Plate, at 5.10. The buses will leave at 4.30pm.
For more information on the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting contact Petrea Vela on 09 298 0055 or email petrea.vela@nzb.co.nz
Click here for information on tickets and hospitality packages.
Karaka Million Raceday Sponsors
