New Blood in Hunt for Karaka Million

Two-year-old races on Friday and Saturday on both sides of the Tasman saw three Karaka Million nominees go straight to the leading group in the Order of Entry for New Zealand's richest two-year-old race.

Friday's Te Rapa meeting marked the fourth two-year-old race of the New Zealand season, the Belvedere Farm Juvenile (1000m) in which Karaka Million nominee Savabill claimed his first points on the board in a winning debut race appearance.

The John Sargent trained Savabill (Savabeel x Illuminate) was too classy for his rivals, breaking his maiden by one-and-a-quarter lengths. The win sees Savabill go straight to third place on the Order of Entry.

Fellow Karaka Million nominees Smoke 'N' Mirrors (Fast 'N' Famous x Bayswater), Energetic Warrior (Perfectly Ready x Energetic Dancer) and Ellatain (Captain Rio x Chloella) ran into second, third and fifth respectively and have all made the leader board for the $1 million race.

Saturday's Midas Two-Year-Old (800m) at Riccarton saw Bespoke (Pins x Velvet and Satin) win his debut for trainer Jason Bridgman and go straight to fourth place. The other three runners Dollario (Captain Rio x Dungaree Doll), The Aftershock (Nadeem x Queens Move) and Power Climber (Encosta De Lago x Danzanta) are also registered for the Karaka Million and have added their names to the board.

A strong second by Isle be Ready in the Listed $100,000 NSW Breeders Plate has put the son of Perfectly Ready well in front on the Order of Entry with a lead of over $11,000. Darci's Money who also ran in the field now features on the Order of Entry in eighth place.

Last season Nacho Man was the last horse to scrape into the fourteen horse field, carrying $6,250 in prizemoney, therefore the leading four have made a promising beginning to securing a coveted race start.   

The three-year-olds registered for the $200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile also took to the track over the weekend with performances that included a win from Encosta Diablo (Encosta de Lago x Devil's Lair) in the Mediaworks Canterbury Racing Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton. Icepin (Pins x Ice Maiden) and Maradona (Mr. Nancho x Cashcade) also ran on Saturday running second and third in the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Hawke's Bay Guineas.

The final field for the Karaka 3YO Mile will be determined according to domestic ratings.

Full details of the calendar of two-year-old races leading up to the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting can be found on the New Zealand Bloodstock website, together with the up-to-date Order of Entry for both races.