Kinnaird Stakes Karaka Millions Claim With Impressive Eclipse Win

Undefeated Karaka graduate Kinnaird (Home Affairs) moved into favouritism for the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie later this month with a smart victory over the same course and distance in the $225,000 Group Two Skycity Eclipse Stakes on New Year’s Day.

Kinnaird was offered by Highview in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, where Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis bought him for $340,000. Kinnaird has now had two starts for two wins and $146,975 in stakes.

The Eclipse came 32 days after Kinnaird’s raceday debut, where he dug deep for a hard-fought victory over Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) and Butler Cabin (NZ) (Ardrossan). Ka Ron went on to finish second in a strong race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, while Butler Cabin was runner-up in last month’s Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Kinnaird came up against another competitive and form-stacked field of two-year-olds in the Eclipse Stakes on Thursday, but he again came out on top in the hands of jockey Opie Bosson.

Initially settling in sixth and one off the rail, Kinnaird later cut back to the inside and didn’t have to go around a single horse. Bosson drove him up along the fence and he clawed his way up alongside the favourite Harvey Wallbanger (NZ) (Home Affairs). That rival tried to lift again, but Kinnaird packed too much power and pulled ahead to win by a length.

“I wanted to come out, but he was a bit horse-shy of the horse outside of me, so he gave me no choice but to come back in,” Bosson said.

“As soon as I asked the question, he really knuckled down and wanted to win, which is what you need in a colt going into a Karaka Millions.

“I think he definitely has the ability to be a good chance in that race. He has a lot of upside. He’s still learning and we’ve got the option of putting the blinkers on too.”

Kinnaird could attempt to further enhance an extraordinary Karaka Millions record for Te Akau Racing and horses purchased by Ellis. The all-conquering operation has previously won the race with Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau), Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor), Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth).

Kinnaird is trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.

“He is still new, he is still green, he did a lot wrong, but the experience and the class of Opie got him through,” Walker said.

Kinnaird was bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club and is out of the O’Reilly mare Orinda (NZ). That makes the Eclipse Stakes-winning colt a half-brother to Group One Australian Derby (2400m) winner Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj) and stakes-winning mare Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj).

Both Kinnaird and the runner-up Harvey Wallbanger come from the first crop by Home Affairs, who has 10 yearlings catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2026.

Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from January 25 to 29, with Book 1 on January 25 and 26, Book 2 on January 27 and the new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.

Vendor	Highview
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Home Affairs – Orinda
Sale	Lot 174, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $340,000
Breeder	Hong Kong Breeders Club Limited
Owner	Te Akau Home & Abroad Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)