Star Treasure (NZ) To Take Xiong Feng Connections Back to Million

The connections of 2016 Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng (NZ) (Iffraaj) are set to take part in the $1m race again 12 months later.

Star Treasure (NZ) (Lonhro) guaranteed himself a place in the 2017 Karaka Million field with a hard-fought victory in the $50,000 Auckland Co-Op Taxis 1100 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Like Xiong Feng, Star Treasure is trained by Stephen McKee and part-owned by Kim and Koon Tan. Their latest star juvenile is also closely related to Xiong Feng. Star Treasure’s dam Lost In Dubai (NZ) (Dubai Destination) is a half-sister to Xiong Feng.

Star Treasure has now had three starts for a win, a third and a fifth, earning $33,150 to sit in second place on the order of entry.

Dual stakes winner Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power) maintains a clear lead with $96,875 in prize-money. Talaria (NZ) (O’Reilly) is third on the table, just behind Star Treasure with $31,250, while Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) is fourth with $20,000.

The Ellerslie carnival will feature two further opportunities for Karaka Million hopefuls to boost their prize-money tallies. A maiden two-year-old race worth $10,000 will be held on December 29, while the New Year’s Day meeting features the $70,000 Group 3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m).