Kinnard Joins Te Akau’s Karaka Millions 2YO Arsenal

Eight-time TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winners Te Akau Racing are building another strong hand for the next edition of the $1m showpiece, which will be run at Ellerslie on January 24 on the eve of Karaka 2026.

Te Akau’s premiership-leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson hold four of the top 12 positions on the order of entry, with the newest addition being impressive debut winner Kinnaird (Home Affairs).

The colt by first-season sire Home Affairs was a tough winner of the $40,000 Levin Jumpouts 2YO (1100m) at Otaki on Sunday. Jockey Craig Grylls had him positioned on the outside of the leader, then took charge in the straight before digging deep to hold out the late challenge of Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain).

“It was a really good performance to stick his head out and win in a close finish and he showed plenty of grit and determination,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson.

“He was left in front a little bit soon in the straight, and was a touch green at his first start, but he knuckled down strongly when the other horse arrived up alongside.

“He’ll take a lot of improvement from the race and trip away, and I think that after a short freshen-up, he’ll keep furnishing into an even better young horse. There is plenty of upside with him.

“The family has invariably left horses that win over much more distance and as older horses, but he has shown precocity and natural talent to be able to race and win as a two-year-old and there is a lot more scope to come.

“He’s eligible for the Karaka Millions 2YO in January at Ellerslie, and that will be our aim.”

Kinnaird earned $23,000 from Sunday’s win, which puts him into equal sixth place on the Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry. The promising colt is a half-brother to Group One Australian Derby (2400m) winner and sire Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj).

Highview offered Kinnaird in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, where he was bought for $340,000 by David Ellis. The Te Akau principal has purchased eight of the last nine Karaka Millions 2YO winners – 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).

Te Akau’s other Karaka Millions contenders in the top 12 on the order of entry are Out Of The Blue (NZ) (Tivaci) in third with $37,375, Zaharias (NZ) (Super Seth) in eighth with $19,425 and Sword Of Stars (NZ) (Sword Of State) in 12th with $8,325.

Melbourne-based filly Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State), the winner of the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October in her only start to date, tops the table with A$120,750.

In second spot with $86,250 is De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan), who has won both of her starts to date including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Pukekohe.

Incandescent (NZ) (Per Incanto), who is leading the charge for MyRacehorse in their expansion into New Zealand, was a debut winner at Ellerslie on Saturday and moved into 10th on the order of entry with $17,250.

Upcoming opportunities to earn crucial prize-money and move up the Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry include an $18,500 race at Te Aroha this Sunday, a $65,000 race at Te Rapa on December 13 and the $175,000 Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on December 20.

The 2026 Karaka Millions 2YO will be run at Ellerslie on January 24, as part of a star-studded twilight card that also features the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the $700,000 Group One Sistema Railway (1200m), the $1m Group Three Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), the $250,000 Group Three Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and the $100,000 Jo Giles Stakes (1400m).

Karaka Millions night serves as the perfect curtain-raiser for the 100th edition of the New Zealand National Yearling Sale, which gets underway the following day. Book 1 of Karaka 2026 takes place on January 25 and 26, followed by Book 2 on January 27 and the new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.