The powerful Te Akau Racing operation has an incredible record in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in recent seasons, and they are well placed to carry on in the same vein in 2021.
Horses purchased at Karaka by Te Akau principal David Ellis and trained by Jamie Richards have won New Zealand’s richest two-year-old race four times in a row – Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in 2017, Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in 2018, Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in 2019 and Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) this year.
If that wasn’t enough, there was also a quinella in 2018 with Avantage and Al Hasa (NZ) (Exceed and Excel), while Probabeel, Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) and Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel) combined for an incredible trifecta in 2019.
In the order of entry for the 2021 DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO, Te Akau occupies three of the top four positions through the early weeks of two-year-old racing this season.
The $85,000 Book 1 purchase Palamos (Extreme Choice) currently sits in second place with $13,050, courtesy of a debut victory at Te Rapa last Saturday, while two-time placegetter Avonallo (NZ) (Belardo) and debut Avondale winner Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy) are third and fourth with $6,750 and $5,400 respectively.
The top position belongs to Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer), trained by Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro at Ruakaka. Bought for $24,000 from Valachi Downs’ Book 2 draft, the impressive colt has had two starts for two stylish victories at Riccarton on October 3 and October 24.
But significant changes could be just around the corner in the black-type juvenile features, starting with the $50,000 Listed Frantic Bloodstock Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton on November 14.
Meanwhile, Karaka Million 2YO winner Cool Aza Beel is currently the table-topper in the order of entry for the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). He could attempt to follow in the footsteps of his superstar stablemate Probabeel, who was the first horse in history to win both the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
Melbourne Group Three winner Crosshaven (Smart Missile) and the undefeated Group Two Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) are also prominently positioned, but the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) could cause some significant movement on the table over the next three weeks.
New Zealand Bloodstock’s new-look website has the latest order of entry information for both Karaka Million races, which will be held at Ellerslie on January 23, giving graduates of NZB’s sales the opportunity to compete for a share in two $1 million prizes.
View the Karaka Million 2YO Order of Entry here.
