The fleet-footed Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) has gate speed to burn, and the Stephen Marsh-trained filly has had the best possible outcome for her racing style with a draw of one.
Stakes-winning fellow Cambridge runners Ethereal Star (Snitzel) and Impendabelle (Impending) have also drawn favourably in gates three and five respectively.
The draw has added to some building momentum around well-related filly Ethereal Star, who has top Melbourne jockey Damian Lane crossing the Tasman to take the ride. Bought for $600,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Ethereal Star has already been a black-type winner at Pukekohe – capturing the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Challenge Stakes (1100m) in November.
Te Akau Racing have made this race their own in recent years, celebrating six consecutive winners who were bought by David Ellis and trained by Jamie Richards.
With multiple premiership-winning trainer Mark Walker now back at the helm, Te Akau once again has a powerful hand in this year's race with an incredible seven runners in the field.
The highest-rated member of their arsenal is Trobriand (Kermadec), who has won all of his three starts including the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m). He has drawn solidly in gate six, but it was a different story for their other undefeated runner Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). A last-start winner at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, he has drawn one from the outside in gate 14.
She Turns Heads (Headwater), who has finished second to well-credentialled rivals in all of her three starts, got the best of Te Akau's draws in gate two, while Balance Of Power (NZ) (Almanzor) has the daunting task of jumping from the extreme outside gate. Stakes placegetters Talisker (NZ) (Embellish), Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) and Believe In Magic (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) all drew midfield in gates seven, eight and nine respectively.
The only runner on the ballot, the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Stickto The Orders (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), has drawn gate four.
Otaki raider Dapper (NZ) (Shooting To Win) will break from gate 10, while Shoes (NZ) (Derryn), Orgullo (Pride Of Dubai) and Farravallo (NZ) (Belardo) complete the field in gates 11, 12 and 13 respectively.
$1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) Quick Facts
- Barrier 1 and barrier 14 have had the most wins for the 2YO. They both have a success rate of 20% and 3 wins. No horse in the 2YO race has ever won in barrier 6.
- The most expensive horse in the 2YO race is Ethereal Star who was purchased for $600,000. The cheapest horse in the 2YO race is Farravallo who was purchased for $20,000.
- Australian sire Snitzel has sired two runners in the 2YO race, they are Ethereal Star and Rhetorical.
- The vendors with the most runners in the 2YO race are Hallmark Stud (Impendabelle and Orgullo), and Haunui Farm (Rhetorical and Farravallo). They each have two runners.
- Te Akau have won the past six Karaka Million 2YO races since 2017 and are going for their seventh this year.
- O P Bosson has had five Karaka million wins. He had a four year winning streak until 2021, but won again in 2022.
- International jockeys who have won: Michael Rodd (Aus, 2009), Stathi Katsidis (Aus, 2010), Craig Williams (Aus, 2012 & 2013), Mark du Plessis (Zimbabwe, 2014).
The DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO will be run as Race 4 at Pukekohe on Saturday, with a start time of 6.08pm.
| BARRIER | ORDER | HORSE | BREEDING | TRAINER | SALE | PRICE | VENDOR | BREEDER | PURCHASER | OWNER | PRIZE MONEY | KARAKA 2023 SIBLING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | Trobriand | B. C Kermadec x Arboreal | M W Walker | Book 1 | $260,000 | Windsor Park Stud | Windsor Park Stud | DC Ellis | Te Akau Island Paradise Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) | $117,090.00 | B. C Half brother by Russian Revolution Lot 39 (V: Windsor Park Stud) |
| 14 | 2 | Tokyo Tycoon | B. G Satono Aladdin x All About the Coin | M W Walker | Book 1 | $125,000 | Rich Hill Stud | Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd | DC Ellis | Meadowbank Masters Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) & Te Akau Satono Samurai Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM ) | $48,650.00 | B. F Half sister by Vadamos Lot 24 (V: Rich Hill Stud) |
| 10 | 3 | Dapper | Ch. C Shooting to Win x Brianna | J Benner & H Wynyard | Book1 | $150,000 | Milan Park | T V Rider | GE Harding | G E Harding | $46,415.00 | B. F Half sister by Ocean Park Lot 76 (V: Milan Park) |
| 7 | 4 | Talisker | Br. G Embellish x Glenkinchie | M W Walker | Book 1 | $70,000 | Landsdowne Park Ltd | C T Grammer & P D Stopforth | DC Ellis | Te Akau Classic Edition Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) | $27,250.00 | B. C Brother by Embellish Lot 781 (V: Landsdowne Park Ltd) |
| 15 | 5 | Balance of Power | B. C Almanzor x Respin | M W Walker | Book 1 | $300,000 | Cambridge Stud | B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay | DC Ellis | J O Anderson, Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay, DJ Bloodstock Partnership, M K Durling, GN & CM Bloodstock Ltd, J F & Mrs P L Hepburn, Ben Kwok, R Lau, T N Simpson & Westonlea Bloodstock | $22,850 | B. C Half Brother by So You Think Lot 464 (V: Cambridge Stud) |
| 13 | 6 | Farravallo | B. G Belardo x Manurewa | Paul Richards | Book 2 | $20,000 | Haunui Farm | T A Green, Rewa Cos Syndicate, Est late T J McKee ONZM & Est Late Sir Colin Meads | Chris Rutten B/stock | I J Farrelly & C A Rutten | $12,200.00 | |
| 5 | 7 | Impendabelle | Ch. F Impending x Applegate | A W Pike | Book 1 | $80,000 | Hallmark Stud | Monovale Holdings Ltd | Brewers B/stock | Ms S E Bourke, J F Bruford, M L Dear, C J Griffin, M D Jaffray, L F & R C McLean, P L Sparrow & M L O Williams | $95,200.00 | B. F Half sister by So You Think Lot 36 (V: Landsdowne Park Ltd) |
| 3 | 8 | Ethereal Star | Ch. F Snitzel x Eleonora | Andrew Forsman | Book 1 | $600,000 | Blandford Lodge | J M L Bloodstock Ltd | Forsman Racing/Andrew Williams B/stock/Bevan Smith B/stock | Miss K L Clarke, G Hatwell, P M Kay, Ben Kwok, Dr H J Poczwa, Mrs M E Williams & Zame Partnership | $57,300.00 | |
| 9 | 9 | Believe in Magic | B. F Not A Single Doubt x Perform a Miracle | M W Walker | Book 1 | $200,000 | Westbury Stud | G Harvey | DC Ellis | Te Akau Absolutely No Doubt Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) | $40,515.00 | |
| 8 | 10 | Rhetorical | B. F Snitzel x Xpression | M W Walker | Book 1 | $270,000 | Haunui Farm | M N Apatu, F W Coates, Haunui Bloodstock Ltd & Whanakino Ltd | DC Ellis | Te Akau Xpression Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) | $34,200.00 | |
| 1 | 11 | Ulanova | Ch. F Santos x The Fairy's Kiss | S B Marsh | Book 1 | $150,000 | Kilgravin Lodge | Ancroft Stud Ltd | Mick Wallace | Gandharvi Pty Ltd, Telluride Agency & D W Wallace | $24,250.00 | |
| 12 | 12 | Orgullo | B. F Pride of Dubai x World of Gold | Clint Isdale | Book 1 | $40,000 | Hallmark Stud | Monovale Holdings Ltd | Isdale Racing/IJ Lewis | Clinton Isdale, Ian Lewis, John Clark, James Reid, Sue Saunders, John Grogan, Michael Minfa, Peter Latoszynski & Scott Reid | $13,600.00 | B. F Sister by Pride of Dubai Lot 644 (V: Landsdowne Park Ltd) |
| 11 | 13 | Shoes | Br. F Derryn x Ambitious Beauty | M Moroney & P Gerard | Book 2 | $22,500 | Grangewilliam Stud | Grangewilliam Stud Ltd | Paul Moroney B/stock/Ballymore Stables | Ballymore Stables NZ Ltd, Jane Carolan, Karen Glindemann, Jo Hikaka, Lisa Lindberg, Lynette O'Connor, Nicky Reeves, Melissa Moroney, & Catheryne Bruggeman | $11,350.00 | |
| 2 | 14 | She Turns Heads | B. F Headwater x Convene | M W Walker | Book 1 | $170,000 | Carlaw Park | Vinery Stud (Australia) Pty Ltd | DC Ellis | Te Akau Go The Girls Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) | $7,740.00 | B. C Half Brother by Press Statement Lot 106 (V: Carlaw Park) |
| 4 | 15 | Stickto the Orders | B. F U S Navy Flag x Attention Seeker | L O'sullivan & A Scott | Book 1 | $45,000 | Curraghmore | M Jamieson | BR B/stock | Louise Wilson, Michael & Amber Ziccone, Heath Prytherch, Regan & Tori Donnison, Jared Agent, Yohan Nathan, Trevor & Hazel Agent, Mandish Singh & Kevin Agent | $5,700 |
