Landlock Leaps to Top of TAB Karaka Millions 2YO Standings

A winning debut at Wanganui on Saturday has propelled Landlock (Merchant Navy) to the top of the order of entry for the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).

Saturday’s $40,000 Pilet Contracting Ltd/Pioneer Seeds 2YO (800m) was the second two-year-old race of the season in New Zealand and was always likely to have a major Karaka Millions impact.

It was worth more than the season-opening $25,000 Dave Hoskin Carriers 2YO (800m) at the same venue three weeks earlier, and based on previous years, Saturday’s first prize of $23,000 should be enough to comfortably secure a spot in the Karaka Millions starting gate at Ellerslie in late January.

Landlock headed to Wanganui without the benefit of any educational trials, but he was not in any way held back by a lack of experience.

After settling in third for jockey Kelly Myers, Landlock quickened smartly and drove through along the inside of the leaders before the home turn.

Princess Elsa (NZ) (Frosted) rose to meet his challenge in the straight, and that pair moved more than three lengths of the rest of the field and fought out an exciting finish. It was Landlock who ultimately came out on top, edging out Princess Elsa by a nose.

“He hadn’t had any trials leading into this, and I think Cody (Cole, trainer) was almost using this race as a bit of a trial,” Myers said. “The horse has a bit of improvement in him and has obviously got a lot of ability as well.”

Landlock was offered by Woburn Farm in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where he was bought by CW Cole Racing for $20,000. He is a half-brother to the Listed winner Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) as well as Mr Blue Sky (Zoustar), who himself contested the Karaka Millions 2YO in 2021 in just the third start of his career.

Landlock has gone straight to the top of the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry with $23,000.

To Bravery Born (Snitzel), who won the season’s first juvenile race at Wanganui three weeks ago, holds second place with $14,375.

Princess Elsa has moved into third with Saturday’s second-place stake of $7,400, followed by Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) with $4,625, Almakeitgood (NZ) (Ardrossan) with $3,600 and Bordeaux Belle (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with $1,250.

The next chance for Karaka Millions-eligible juveniles to bank crucial prize-money will be at Te Aroha next Sunday, with the running of a 1000-metre race worth $18,500.

The $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO will be run at Ellerslie on January 25, part of a new two-day racing carnival that bookends the Karaka 2025 selling extravaganza.

The opening night features not only the Karaka Millions 2YO, but also the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1600m), the $700,000 Group One Sistema Railway (1200m), the $600,000 Group Two Westbury Classic (1400m) and the $250,000 Group Three Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m).

After six days of Karaka 2024 selling action, Ellerslie will host a second blockbuster raceday on February 1 that includes the $120,000 Group Three Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), the $100,000 Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and a number of other feature races that are yet to be confirmed.

Vendor	Woburn Farm
Purchaser	CW Cole Racing
Breeding	Merchant Navy – Blue Blue Sky
Sale	Lot 1087, Karaka 2024 Book 2, $20,000
Bred by	Katom