Te Akau Savours Sixth Karaka Million 2YO

For the sixth year in a row, a packed and sun-soaked Ellerslie saluted syndication superstars Te Akau Racing and record-breaking trainer Jamie Richards as the winners of the $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m). 

Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor), who was bought by David Ellis for $360,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, joins an exceptional stable honour roll alongside the subsequent Group One winners Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) and On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau).

“This is special,” said Ellis, who led Dynastic back to scale after Saturday’s superb win. “I was actually quite emotional when I went out to the horse after the race. To win this race six times in a row is something very special.”

Remarkably, Dynastic’s 2022 Karaka Million triumph came at just his second start, having made his debut with a strong-finishing second placing at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Dynastic was the chosen Karaka Million mount for Te Akau’s top rider Opie Bosson, and after settling in seventh place behind a fast pace, he let rip in the straight with a scintillating burst.

The previously undefeated Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) tried hard to stay with him on his inside, but it was all Dynastic through the last 100 metres as the flashy colt powered clear to win by two and a quarter lengths.

“This is just an unbelievable feeling,” Richards said. “To win six in a row, and for this colt to become the first southern hemisphere winner for his sire Almanzor as well, is a great result.

“The pace of the race was probably always set up for someone to finish it off strongly – in some ways it was similar to the way Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) won the race a few years ago.

“Dave (Ellis) has done it again with a colt he bought at Karaka, and that man on top is a champion.

“Opie’s had a very big opinion of this colt for a long time, and it’s onwards and upwards from here. Anything he does as a two-year-old is really just a bonus – it’s all about next year for him.

“Obviously things are going to change for Danielle (Johnson) and me when we move to Hong Kong later in the year, so it means a lot to get this win.” 

Five of the Te Akau six were ridden to Karaka Million glory by Bosson, who was sidelined through suspension when On The Bubbles scored 12 months ago.

“I probably didn’t quite end up in the spot I wanted to be in, but I had no choice,” the champion jockey said. “Once I got him balanced up in the straight, boy, he was strong.

“I’ve liked him since I rode him in a trial, where he came with big strides. I just had the gut feeling that he was the horse to be on.

“It’s a real privilege to ride these quality horses that David Ellis buys at Karaka, and Jamie Richards is a freak of a trainer – I’m going to miss him when he goes to Hong Kong.”

Dynastic became only the second horse in history to win the Karaka Million at their second start, following on from Australian raider Ockham’s Razor (NZ) (Any Suggestion) in 2012.

Dynastic is by Cambridge Stud’s first-season stallion Almanzor, who has soared straight to the top of New Zealand’s first-season sire standings. Dynastic is only the third winner in the 14-year history of the Karaka Million for a first-season sire, joining Any Suggestion’s son Ockham’s Razor in 2012 and Showcasing’s Hardline (NZ) in 2015.

Windsor Park Stud will offer a half-brother to Dynastic during Karaka 2022, with a colt by Mongolian Khan going through the ring as Lot 929 in Book 2.

Vendor	Windsor Park Stud
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Almanzor – Meir
Sale	Lot 533, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $360,000
Bred by	J C & Mrs M A Thompson & Windsor Park Stud