Race for Karaka Million Start is On!

The first juvenile race of the season, The Danfive @ Grangewilliam Stud 2YO at Wanganui on Saturday, saw Karaka Million eligible youngsters completing the trifecta with Big River taking top honours.

Trained by Mark Walker, Big River (General Nediym - Zoilus, by Maroof) headed into the race the favourite having won both his trial starts. Te Akau stable-rider James McDonald settled the colt mid-field and once clear in the straight he drew away to win by three-quarters of a length.

Hayden Tinsley guided Aladdin Prince (Volksraad x Grand Princess, by Last Tycoon) to second while Kylemore Abbey (One Cool Cat - Blackrock College, by Volksraad) put in an impressive effort to abandon his inside run when blocked, angling wide and making up ground for third.

Raced by Laurie Laxon and Mave Yeo, Big River was secured by Laxon for $150,000 from the draft of his breeders, Whakanui Stud, at this year's Karaka Premier Sale.

He is from the five-time winning mare Zoilus and is by the renowned speedster and sire of speedsters, General Nediym. General Nediym won five starts as a juvenile and went on the win the Group 1 VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m). His best performed offspring, Regimental Gal, almost replicated this, winning the Lightning but finishing third to Exceed and Excel in the Newmarket.

Aladdin Prince is a full-brother to stakes winning two-year-old Captain's Command and was a $50,000 purchase by his trainer, Peter Hurdle, from Windsor Park Stud at the Karaka Select Sale.

Kylemore Abbey was an $82,500 Karaka Premier Sale purchase from Cambridge Stud. Leading into the race she was placed in her only trial for trainer John Wheeler.

Big River now has $5,000 in stake-money to his name and heads the Karaka Million Order of Entry. The final 14-horse field for the 2010 Karaka Million will be determined according to prize money earned up to the big race on 31 January 2010.

To stay up to date with the Karaka Million throughout the season visit the Karaka Million page at http://www.nzb.co.nz/

Click here for the full list of horses eligible to contest a start in the inaugural $200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile.