The Race to the $1m Karaka Million is On

The build-up to New Zealand’s richest race - the $1 million Karaka Million - is officially underway following the first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui on Saturday.

The $12,500 94.4 The Sound 800 for two-year-olds was taken out by the $20,000 Select Sale graduate Kschessinska (Volksraad) for trainer Leo Molloy, with the filly taking the early lead on the Order of Entry with $7,810 collected from Saturday’s win.

With a start in the million dollar event determined by prizemoney won, a spot in the 2013 Karaka Million field only took a minimum of $3,750 so Kschessinska has already taken a big step towards competing for the $1 million purse in the final 14-horse field.

The Byerley Park visitor sat behind the leaders over the 800m dash and came with a driving finish to get over the top of her rivals for a half-head victory.

The Volksraad filly came into the race on the back of two trials, placing second at her most recent trial at Te Teko on 27 August.

Other Karaka Million nominated horses to get their names on the leader board include runner-up Vespa (Elusive City) for trainer Johno Benner, and Maia’s Angel (Thorn Park) for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young who finished in fourth.

Kschessinska was bred by Emblem Ltd and purchased by Tony Gavigan at the 2013 Karaka Select Sale for $20,000 from Mapperley Stud.

The $1 million Karaka Million is open to two-year-olds that were purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 National Yearling Sales Series and nominated for the 2014 Series. The 2014 Karaka Million, a Restricted Listed event, is set to be held at a Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday 26 January, the eve of the National Yearling Sale Series.

Keep up-to-date with news and information as the 2014 Karaka Million Order of Entry unfolds at www.nzb.co.nz.